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to presume upon their members, to Endeavour to carry matters with the strong hand; if the English officers should suddenly inflict punishment it is hard to secure that they may not resist, and that the will of the people may not spread, by reason of your oppressing the territory. We have therefore resolved to send Seun keen, or the inferior district officer, to reside at Rowley, for the purpose of controlling Chinese, and investigating the crimes they are accused of on the nearest spot. This is that your officer stationed at Hong Kong may adopt the measures he deems prudent beforehand, and not for any other sinister intention.
Extract of a letter from Sir Harry Pottinger to the Imperial Commissioners dated February 20, 1845.
I quite approve of your Excellencies sending a chunkeen or inferior District officer for the purpose of investigating the crimes and settling the disputes of the Chinese people residing on Hong Kong, and I will instruct it to be notified that all Chinese persons having complaints against Chinese may apply if they like. When foreigners are parties in disputes of course the British Officers must in all cases investigate, and where the Chinese are found in the wrong they will be sent with the evidence to Kowloon.