14
Cilen himself or his children either were no longer regarded as owing allegiance to the Emperor of China but to Your Majesty. As soon as they could make a profit in the least reputable way, they would avail themselves of the uninvented privilege. I see no counterbalancing advantage likely to arise either within Great Britain or to the Chinese themselves from the inauguration of so many possible complications.
16. In all cases, however, I would suggest that no Chinese should be allowed to claim Treaty privileges as a British Subject outside of British Territory unless he had claimed such privilege, and his claim had been allowed by the Law Offices of that territory and been there Registered previous to his leaving it. Whilst, if found in Chinese official territory afterwards without a certificate of such Registration, he should be left to the Chinese Authorities to deal with him.
3.
I shall send by the first opportunity a copy of this despatch to Sir Rutherford Alcock, that he may be enabled to offer any observations thereon, which his experience suggests, to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship's
Most obedient servant,
Richard Graves Macdonell
Governor