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for the information of
The govern{or
stis Excellency the Governor that after a long correspondence on the subject, the Viceroy consents to surrender the boat and opium to the Hong Kong Government, to dismiss Sergeant Mac-hsiang from the service, and record his Commanding officer for demerit", and adds, "that he hopes this affair arose "from the mistake of an ignorant inexperienced naval officer, and "was not an intentional offence "against international courtesy and still less was it an international "affair instigated by him the Viceroy". His Excellency The Governor "of Hong Kong will pardon it?
The Viceroy adds that several weeks having elapsed since the order to deliver up the boat was given, it has probably disappeared; he would be glad therefore, to know what kind of boat must be returned in its place, or, for the sake of simplifying the matter, what sum shall be paid as its value. I observe that the amount of opium captured in the boat as returned by the