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under the Government of the East India Company
are still in a great degree,
if not entirely, subject to Law which
existed in the country previously to it's coming under the Sovereignty
of Great Britain; and if that is
the case,
there seems no reason
Why
the Chinese in Hong Kong should not continue subject to Chinese Law, not
indeed administered in the name of The Emperor of China, but still, to
all intents and purposes the same
as that
by which their conduct
was
regulated previously to the cession
of the Island.
Sir Henry Pottinger
might therefore state to the Chinese Authorities that Her Majesty's government
are
perfectly willing to agree
that the Chinese who are
domiciled on
the Island
permanently
should
continue subject to the Chinese Law ;-
and Lord Aberdeen is not aware
whether there would be
any insurmountable objection to Sir Henry
Pottinger further stating that Her Majesty's Government would
Willingly