I am not in any way called upon to express an opinion on the formal proposals which my predecessor transmitted to your Lordship on the eve of his departure from Hong Kong. But as the record I have just quoted is manifestly not of a final character, and rather indicates personal views, or an expression of them only, to the full discussion of which I am sure he would not object, I venture to think that some plan might be devised which would render unnecessary so grave and unusual proceedings against smugglers.
Instead of handing over smugglers to the Chinese Government, I would continue to strictly enforce the provisions of Ordinance 6 of 1866, with the addition of some such regulation as this: that every master of a Chinese junk anchoring in our harbour should show the Harbour Master the clearance paper prescribed in Sir Arthur Kennedy's formal proposals, or if he could not do so, that the cargo not be unloaded in our harbour.
Though with the strongest disposition to be guided by Sir Arthur Kennedy's great knowledge and better judgment in a matter of this kind,
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