and the Colony on the same footing as that between the Treaty Ports
and referring themselves, seizures of Hong Kong licensed Junks by Chinese Cruisers - second, inclosing a report of an investigation at Canton with respect to those seizures; and third, inclosing a proclamation subsequently issued by the Viceroy, and the copies of a correspondence between the Governor and Her Majesty's Consul at Canton in respect to that proclamation.
In reply, I am to request that you will state to Earl Granville, that as regards the latter question, viz. the action of the Chinese cruisers towards the Hong Kong Junks, the transactions, under consideration, seem to have been the result of an abusive exercise of an undoubted right on the part of the Chinese authorities; and that as, after due investigation by the British Consul and the Chinese Authorities at Canton, steps appear to have been taken with a view of preventing unnecessary recurrence of similar abuses in future, My Lords consider it unnecessary to offer any further observations on the subject.
On the former question, viz. that of placing the trade between Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports on the footing of a coasting trade, I am to observe that it is difficult