16.20.
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19-decline taking in Cargo here for the mainland, and that numbers of honest well-known legitimate traders are now in the harbor no longer afraid to leave it. Of twelve large "prage" "I Honghong and their poor boats plying between Hongkong and Cramative towns have ceased to run and I have stated in my despatch No. 548 of the 23rd July last year that immense numbers of native craft will quit a place where, whatever be their character, they must henceforward be exposed to search, squeezing, and extortion.
Moreover, whilst I still believe as stated in that same despatch (Para 12), that a word in time from either Her Majesty's Minister or Her Majesty's Consul might have entirely broken up the whole scheme, which the Chinese are working with a view to overthrowing native commerce with this Port, I cannot conceal from myself that Her Majesty's Government is now obliged to deal with a most unpleasant, novel, and monstrous evil to meet which some comprehensive measure must apparently be taken unless this Colony is to be entirely sacrificed.
25. I am wholly unable to conceive what adequate explanation can be given by the Chinese Authorities. To disavow sanction for those semi-piratical acts should not suffice, as similar acts would be perpetually renewed and disavowed ultimately as might suit the immediate...