To all to whom these Presents shall come, Vitoria by the Grace of God, &c. &c. &c.
Whereas by a certain Act of Parliament passed in the Seventh year of our reign entitled "An Act for the better government of Her Majesty's subjects in the Island of Hong Kong" it is amongst other things enacted that it shall be lawful for us by any Commission or Commissions under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, or by any Instrument under our Signet and Sign Manual accompanying such Commission or Commissions referred to in any Instrument accompanying such Commission to authorise the Governor of the said Island of Hong Kong (so long as he shall be also the Superintendent of the Trade of the said Island) to enact with the advice of the Legislative Council of the said Island of Hong Kong from time to time such Laws and Ordinances as may be required for the peace, order, and good government of our subjects being within the said Island of Hong Kong.
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I am desirous to refrain from going into the merits of this matter and if its Enclosures - Several days upon arriving from the Foreign Office a letter covering drafts of a despatch to give effect to the new China Act with the draft of a despatch to Your Lordship's office.
JE... to me that they were all wrong. The reason being that on the Foreign Office was not sufficiently acquainted both with the details and with the experience. I therefore prepared drafts all anew and proposed to send them to Your Lordship to substitute in place of the originals.
But by that time I found that there was not a moment to lose no longer in this matter. I therefore sent copies of the drafts, but to send extracts of them as documents actually despatched. I was then informed that Your Lordship's office had not received my despatch with the copies of the accompanying documents, and I recommended that substantial accuracy I took all the pains in my power.
Dr. Ranon Bond explained to me the state which had been later described as such a matter.
I have earlier confidence in your arrangement...
Ay L...
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