Foreign Office
August 14, 1869
No 141.
Sir,
With reference to the question of the appointment of a Chinese Consul to reside in Hongkong referred to in your despatch No 305 of the 14th Dec:
I have to state to you that you properly informed Prince Kung that such an officer could not be allowed to "act in and of the collection of Chinese duties" which seems to have been the object for which the appointment was to be made.
It may indeed be doubtful whether a Chinese Consul in Hongkong, if his duties were limited to those ordinarily devolving on Consular Officers in H. I.'s dominions, would not lead to difficulty
ir R. Alcock K. C.B.
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