Hong Kong
RECEIVED
OCT 21 1843
Whitehall 20 Oct 1843
Your letter to the Treasury of the 18th inst., on the subject of Hong Kong being gazetted as a British Possession with a view to certain Commercial operations, having been communicated to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade; - I am directed to state to you, for the information of Lord Stanley, that my Lords would recommend that under the powers of the 19 Section of the Act of the present year, Her Majesty should open the Port of Hong Kong to Foreigners upon the most free & liberal footing, by permitting Goods of all descriptions to be carried thither in the vessels of any nation.
My Lords trust that such a Proposition will not be deemed by Lord Stanley dangerous to the continuance of Friendly Relations with China.
James Stephen