Between us, I rarely saw him, and he stopped sending me messages at stated times to accompany him to Government House. I was with him on his visit to Pang-Yuk, requesting information regarding the establishment of custom houses in the neighborhood of Hongkong.
I may here mention that it was about this period that the Chinese Authorities renewed their enquiries regarding the establishment of custom houses in the neighborhood of Hongkong. Five years ago, an official had been sent to me to find out the feeling of this Government regarding the establishment of these revenue stations, and also regarding the appointment of a Chinese Consul at this Port.
Tang, the Magistrate, reopened the former of these questions, just after he had been for a second or third time reported for trespassing on official business directly with Hong Kong. From what transpired, had he been left alone, I doubt whether the cordon of stations round the Island would have been opened, as I understood that the Viceroy was anxious to do nothing which would seem unfriendly towards the British Government.
Pang-Yuk, who is a most zealous and active official, was desirous of finding some method for stopping the smuggling which...