revealed a uneasy feeling amongst Chinese residents here, and I therefore feel it incumbent on me to draw attention promptly to this aspect of the case, which, though important, is never very apt to be lost sight of by persons in England.
Especially I feel that, although at present there is ample margin for any action, which Her Majesty's Government may on full consideration think advisable, the opportunity of dealing with the question now may be lost through complications liable to arise hereafter.
I would therefore respectfully suggest that, if requisite, Imperial Legislation should be had recourse to, and that all original persons of Chinese descent, not British Subjects prior to the cession of any Territory to Her Majesty in China or the Straits, should be absolutely precluded from becoming naturalised, or admitted to the rights of British Subjects outside the limits of British Territory.
I submit that an adequate solution of those difficulties, so clearly put by Sir Rutherford Alcock himself, is simply to prevent the possibility of their arising at all by such means as I have ventured to indicate.
Any Chinese resident here would, I believe, be satisfied with the present arrangement that...