Acting Colonial Secretary to Officiating Consul, Shanghai
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and I am directed to point out that it is not a question whether the report in the Courier was correct, but a question whether the Authorities at Shanghai were justified in sending to this Colony sixteen destitute Chinese, who are stated to be bad characters.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 19th November, 1872
Chaloun Alabaster, Esq.
Officiating Consul, Shanghai