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Government shout advance the 50,000 necessary for the establishment of the mint, such advance to be repaid eventually out of the profits.
I have given my best consideration to the arguments adduced for Mercer and buy yourself against calling on the Colony of Hongkong to contribute like other British Colonies to the cost of its Military Defence. I am quite unable to see in their despatches any reasonable grounds for the exemption which is claimed for the community under your Government, and I must request that you will, in accordance with your previous instructions, consider as "definitively settled" by Her Majesty's Government that an annual contribution must be henceforth made by the Colony to the amount, £20,000, prescribed by my Predecessor the Duke of Newcastle. Nor can I consent to allow this payment to be encumbered by any arrangement with the British Treasury, whether respecting the establishment of the mint or otherwise.