already is, the medicine of interference between the Chinese & their Officials, & those difficulties, result would be in all probability, an opening for bribery & corruption which had better be avoided.
It should perhaps be added for Government's information, that the statement made by the Acting Superintendent of Police, in the second Paragraph of his report is incorrect. The officer stationed at Kowloong is a civilian of the lowest rank, that of "Sun Kicu", or Sub-assistant magistrate; his superior, the magistrate of the Siungau district, residing some 30 miles off; but the Colonial employees are strangely ignorant on all matters of this kind.
Was Your obedient servant, (ad.) D. B. Robertson.
Last letter Copy, No: 512. Enclosure in M. Robertson's No. 89 of Nov. 5, 1868.
To E. Mac Brownell, Esq.,
Oct. 28, 1868.
I have the honor to transmit for your information, by desire of H. E. Sir R. J. MacPherson, the inclosed communication from the Acting Superintendent of Police on the difficulty or inconvenience caused by the supposed want of power in the Authorities here to communicate directly with the Chinese Officials on the other side of this harbour adjoining the British territory at Kowloong.
It is quite true that, whatever might be the formal regulations on such a subject, Her Majesty's Government, in the event of any special public emergency, would not hesitate to put them on one side, if the urgency of the case & common sense required it. Nevertheless, there is such an evident inconvenience to Her Majesty's Service occasioned...
To B. Robertson, Esq., C.B., Canton.
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