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English People being governed by English Officers, is the principle by which we hope to put an end to all discussion and wrangling.
It is true the Island of Hong Kong has been graciously given by the Great Emperor to the English Merchants, as a place of Residence; nevertheless the People of Hongkong ought, as of old, to be subject to the rule of the Central kingdom; if, however, this principle be changed, and these People are to become Subjects of England, supposing that these People are unwilling to become such, it will be a very difficult thing indeed to force their inclinations.
Moreover, since the Residents amount to several hundreds, [as stated above], their dispositions being numerous, cannot all be alike; thus still more difficult will it be found to govern Chinese People by English Laws. And again, the English Authorities last year, during... proclaimed to the People of Hong Kong, that those who had Houses and Lands; [They are here quoting from a Proclamation issued by Sir Gordon Bremer, and Captain Elliot in Jan. 1841] "should continue to inhabit them and cultivate them as of old, and that they should be governed by the Laws of...