To state that for some time I have been under the impression that, although the Proclamation had been sent to all the parts and places on the coast, nothing like a strict fulfilment of its provisions was enforced, and this was confirmed by the Viceroy himself, who, on my referring to him a request from His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong to be informed on the subject, at once admitted the impossibility of carrying it out and proposed a system of Registration instead.
I confess I fully agreed with the Viceroy, indeed, am inclined to think it well that the scheme has fallen through, as, however effective it might have been in principle, the practice was certain to have worked injuriously in some cases, perhaps isolated ones but still better avoided. It was better, however, to make the experiment, and its having failed will set at rest a question which Vice Admiral Keppel and Sir Richard G. MacDonnell both strongly supported.
I enclose copies of the Viceroy's despatch and my correspondence.
Page 10
From 10 Sept 1868.. 580
To Col. Jact Stay Kong 8th Sept, 1865
Note from Viceroy 6 Sept. 1868