of the Member of Council, or the admirable argument of the enclosed Memorial from this Community without feeling that it would be unfair to pit
The positive but vague and unsupported assertions of Sir Rutherford Alcock against
The closely reasoned statements and undeniable facts adduced in those documents, and against the opinions of men more conversant than Sir Rutherford with the conditions of Chinese residence at Hongkong, and the operations of trade here, and therefore to speak of the probable effect thereof of any unusual and special circumstance such as the proposed appointment of a Chinese Consul.
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15.
I am unwilling to repeat here what I have already urged against such a measure, vide Quiros. I have already urged against it, as intended by Sir Rutherford Alcock to relieve the Chinese Government of the expense and responsibility devolving on all other Governments of protecting themselves by a competent Revenue Service against smugglers. I believe such a policy would be a great mistake and I prefer seeing the Chinese Government driven to put the smuggler down by enlightened laws, and a more liberal tariff, and accessible seaboard, free from the sparsely scattered Custom Staff maintained by the Chinese Government the attempt to conduct...
NA 701-12 May/69 no 190-13 Sept
7117-69. Sir Rutherford Alcock to relieve the
720 Chrie Government of the expense and
12349-69. A more...
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