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in order to obtain his views, his reply,
however,
the 14th raised no serious
objections, and on
the 22nd of May
an Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council of Hongkong to enable the Governor to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the suppression of Piracy, and certain orders founded upon it, relative to the disarmament of junks in British waters were notified in the Gazette of the 11th of July.
The Vice Roy faithfully carried out his instructions to the Admiral and the disarmament Proclamation was posted up and down the Coast, causing much indignation and dismay on the part of the junk owners. In
truth the expression of feeling, in the
form of remonstrances and petitions poured in so thickly upon the
Vice Roy that he came to consult me upon what was to be done. I saw the result I had anticipated had arrived, and after a long discussion the position I agreed with his Excellency it would be neither prudent
in terms
or safe to attempt to enforce the
the Proclamation and it was better be withdrawn; at the same time
I thought
some measures should be taken, to place the registration of vessels for their clearer identification
on a
better footing than at present existed, and that stricter hold should be...