His Excellency will inform the Mandarin of the same, assuring him that during such occupation no taxes shall be collected from the people already on the ground, and we have letters permitted, and a strong effort made to bring unto order and subjection the lawless people who have hitherto held and defied the district authorities.

I trust from the 14th expenditure of money in the barren waste, His Excellency will find that our temporary occupation will be a real benefit to that part of the Province, and that he will be able to give his assent to the measure, which unavoidable circumstances compel me to adopt.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

Act. Mr. Secretary

Confidential

Canton, 12 March 1860.

I have the honor to be,

Your Excellency,

As I have already reported verbally, that having taken the opportunity on the 8th inst. of conversing on the subject of the Kow-loon Peninsula with the Governor General Laon, I gathered from him the following information as to his views of this question. The Governor General entertains no objection, or at least, expresses none, to see the contemplated encampment formed on the Kow-loon Peninsula and he has gone so far...

Major General Sir C. Staveley, KCB.

Page 378

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