be punished by the English officer residing at Hong Kong.
Having turned the matters over in our minds, this plan does not appear so good, as following the system adopted at Macao, where there is a magistrate on the spot, therefore we were to appoint a Subordinate Assistant officer to reside at Kowloon or Isun-sha bay, in the said District of Hsin-an.
supposing that any of these trifling offences were to be committed, and the criminal to be handed over by the English officer to such subordinate Chinese officer, he being quite at hand
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hand could immediately adjudge on behalf of the Chinese Government and punish him. The English officer who might thus be spared a deal of anxiety, and the Chinese People would have no pretence to make remarks. Acting in this way, disagreements would for ever be put a stop to; our treaty of peace would be fortified and established, and would not this tend to the mutual happiness of both nations?
In reference to what your Excellency says about Chinese People dwelling in Singapore, and other places subject to the English, and being governed