have had to sanction Grants of Land as a temporing expedient before the Peace, that power obviously ceased from the day the Island became by Treaty a bona fide Possession of the British Crown, and as the latest orders that
come to hand from Her Majesty's
Government have as
yet Ministers direct that "Hongkong shall only" be looked upon as a Military Station liable to be
restored at the end of the War" it will be for Her Majesty's Government to judge whether the explanation you offer as to your delay in or
availing yourself of the grant is entitled to any weight : In the meantime it would seem
to be advisable that you
the measure!
you
should countermand
describe in your letter and
which cannot possibly be considered to have
been authorized by the state of the Case
True Copy.
I have the honor to,
Signed. Richard Morrison
Michael Worsley
316