Lou
the peculiar circumstances connected with the new settlement at Hong Kong,
and that they could not be materially reduced without hindering in some degree the attainment of the important objects for which the Island of Hong Kong has been annexed to the British dominions.
Their Lordship's however desire that it may be clearly understood that the scale of Salaries as settled will represent the full extent of the Emoluments of the officers of the China Establishment, and that they expect any further incidental advantage of any kind arising from their Official situations, that they are to be strictly prohibited from engaging, either directly or indirectly, in Trade; and that all Fees must be carried to the Public Account. Official Residences can be allowed.
Their Lordship's have authorized Houses to be provided at the Public Expense at the more distant Consular Stations, if the Earl of Aberdeen should be of opinion that it will be decidedly for the Public interest that the established rule should be departed from in this instance, but the reasons for allowing a similar exception are not nearly of equal strength, while to provide a large number of Public Officers with Residences for themselves and their Families would establish an inconvenient precedent and would be productive of a considerable outlay both for the original erection of the Buildings, and for their subsequent maintenance.
If it be intended that the various Persons belonging to this Establishment should be entitled to the benefits of the Superannuation Fund, it will be necessary that...
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