476
urgent application made to him by the Lieutenant Governor for a reinforcement of the Garrison Hong Kong, Brigadier General Staveley had despatched thither a large Detachment of the 67th Regiment.
Since the date of this proceeding Brigadier General Staveley will have received instructions from Her Majesty's Government to send to England the 31st Regiment and a company of Artillery, without relief, from Shanghai, and Earl de Grey thinks it not improbable that the alleged demand for Troops at Hong Kong will occasion some embarrassment to Brigadier Staveley in the execution of this order.
The existing Force at Shanghai is, according to the latest Advices from thence, less than was considered necessary for its maintenance at the period when the instructions referred to (7th Feby Last) were given, and but for two unforeseen demands from Hong Kong, there would