named at Macao is authorized to act as such in this Colony.
Shave to
(Signed) Richard Homam.
Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co.,
Holliday Macgowan,
Jamieson How,
Bremell Furner,
Framjee Jamsetjee,
Macvicar,
Hé,
Helcher Larkins Hé,
Gentlemen,
Victoria, Hong Kong, May 4th 1844.
Your letter dated the 9th of last month only reached me three days ago and was duly laid before His Excellency the Governor in Council.
In answer to it I am directed to inform you that His Excellency cannot take on himself to give you any assurance beyond that which is stated in the concluding passage of my letter to your address of the 6th of March last (No: 92) but adverting to the peculiar circumstances under which some of you commenced building in this Colony I am to add that a copy of your letter under reply will be forwarded to Her Majesty's Government by the first opportunity accompanied by a recommendation that the clause you now point out may be favourably considered, and that a final decision with respect to its adoption in a perfect or modified form be announced as soon as possible.
I am further directed to take this occasion to acquaint you that recent circumstances have drawn the attention of His Excellency the Governor to that clause in the Leases which reserves to Her Majesty