Colonial Secretary's office.
Kingping, 19 September, 1877.
I am directed by Governor Pope Hennessy to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 61 of the 14th instant, respecting the petition made by Kong Wan Shang against a levy made by a Chinese Customs Station on goods of hardware he was sending from Dinging to Macao.
2. His Excellency agrees with you that it is clearly undesirable to have the Government of Hongkong drawn into the disputed question.
I'i's Grooke Kabiertam, C.B.,
A. M. S. Coml. Manton.