8. I am further to state that, should their Lordships concur in the foregoing proposals Lord Grey will be prepared to submit to them a revised Estimate embodying the required amendments previously communicated to the Treasury.
At the same time it is right to mention that although Lord Grey hopes that no further reasons for alteration may appear, yet as the Governor has been directed to inquire into all practicable reductions in the amount of Garrison to be retained at Hong Kong it is not impossible that he may be led to relinquish some of the reductions which have been previously proposed.
I have to inquire into all practicable reductions in the amount...