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Undoubtedly the prohibition of the carriage vessels of British goods from Chinese or other Hong Kong vessels to the mainland was a condition lending in a marked and unfriendly manner to place Hong Kong at a disadvantage, the commerce of the Port of a principally power. As however the Proclamation under which the Acts complained of were committed, with or without the sanction of the Chinese Government, has now been abrogated, there is fortunately no immediate occasion for further discussions of these questions which His Excellency trusts your experience and good offices will be able to obviate in the future.
I have, &c.,
Signed, I Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary.
True Copies.
A Blandine Martin Colonial Secretary