?
76
5.
The Committee at the same time informed me that Memorials to a similar effect from the Chamber of Commerce, and from the Leaders of the native Chinese community, were in Course of signature, and would be forwarded in time for transmission by the outgoing mail.
6.
In reply I informed the Committee that all the papers presented to me should be duly transmitted for your consideration, but that I could not consent to withdraw the item £20,000, from the Estimates for 1865, the passing of which could not longer be delayed.
At the same time I pointed out to the Committee that in a Crown Colony like this, the ultimate decision upon such a question rested entirely with Her Majesty's Government, independent of any conclusion which might be arrived at in the local Legislature. I felt that I could not, consistently with my duty, arrive at any other decision.
Had I been desired by you to consider the question as definitively settled by Her Majesty's Government?