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Can a person refuse to allow his daughter to marry a man on the mainland, and towards whom she seemed to entertain a fixed aversion, threatening to commit suicide, if forced to such a marriage? The despatch annexed to the Colonial Secretary's letter gives a sufficient resume of the case, so it is unnecessary that I should be particular in explaining why and how it was impossible that I could entertain such a demand, but incidentally it illustrates most aptly the position of Chinese residents here in relation to their mainland Government.
The position which at the greater distance of Singapore would become materially altered, perhaps as to render the considerations which apply here almost inapplicable there.
10. Although Sai Kit Lam has been promised the protection of this Government, whilst he remains in the Colony, and though for the present I am informed the emissaries of the Mandarins have ceased to molest him with their visits and demands for money, I incline to think that eventually he will be forced to yield and sacrifice either his daughter or the greater part of his fortune.
11. In a similar way, I find myself much embarrassed whenever I have to follow up any inquiry involving Chinese evidence inimical ...