disposing of distressed British Subjects and Seamen, owing to the few opportunities there
of sending them to England), and I am instructed then by His Excellency that, having conferred with the Chief Judge on the subject,
he is of opinion that under the Merchant Shipping Act distressed British Subjects cannot be
sent to Hong Kong to become a burden to the Colonial revenue, but that men who have been discharged
at Macau and who come direct to Hong Kong from that Colony, and are destitute, may be returned to it, and there is no doubt that
150 men sent to Macau by the Colonial Authorities (for shipment home) and who thus become distressed,
may and ought to be sent back to Hong Kong; and the Hong Kong Government is bound to receive them; and this I am to communicate to the Governor of Macau if occasion should arise.
I have ...
(signed) D. B. Robertson,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
(True Copy)
Francis Hall