Extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council of Hongkong held on the 3rd November 1856.
"Present:
His Excellency The Governor, The Honble The Chief: Governor is not correct, should be The Honble The Senior Naval Officer is not present, The Honble The Colonial Secretary.
Owing to the non-arrival of the mail till Friday last, the 31st ultimo,
Summones were issued calling a Meeting of the Council for this Day and the Council met accordingly.
The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.
"The Mail having meanwhile arrived with a Dispatch referring to Ordinance No 8 of 1856, the Observation of The Honble The Senior Naval Officer is not present, The Honble The Colonial Secretary and the communication of the Committee appointed at the Public Meeting of the 16th ultimo were entered into and discussed, and the preliminaries of the Answer to be given to those communications being agreed to, the Draft letter Prepared by His Excellency...