Quarter Master General's Office
Hongkong, May 30th 1867.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication No 280 dated 25th instant and in reply am directed by His Excellency the Major General Commanding, to inform you that the principle which has always been admitted in this and he believes in all other colonies belonging to H. M. the Queen is that the War Department is exempt from the payment of local rates and taxes.
I am also to remark that considerable misapprehension appears to exist with The Acting Colonial Secretary.