island; and, moreover, that the union of the
tive offices was not
at all necessary.
It was
In Duke's
judgment therefore not
just to get
rid of the foreign salary altogether, & to content
an
Economical government
for this small island
out of the existing official staff.
But the Act of
1843 6 & 7 Vic. c.80.
stood in the way. It
was
impossible to separate
the offices without taking away
the franchise of the
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
over the China Trade,
unless the Act were amended which the
Duke was not prepared
to propose.
The plan was denied
therefore on this.
Sir J. Bowring to remain Consul of Hong Kong, but without salary as such.