I do not link you can look to this outlet as relieving the Pove of Hong Kong from the necessity of making proper provision for punishing Criminals on the spot, since the resources of Labuan are far too small to admit of it's receiving all the Convicts of Hong Kong. But within due limits I believe that the labor of a class of Chinese Convicts might be very valuable to Labuan, and their withdrawal from Hong Kong may be, as far as it goes, an Accommodation to your Government.
I have therefore to Authorize you to despatch a party of Chinese Convicts to Labuan, but I must lay upon you strongest injunction to take care that the Officers of your Govt do not select for this purpose those