Colony and import into China, a duly which the said Noug= - Kouf Government had no legal power to lesy.
I have only therefore to state, with reference to the cheme proposed, that I think it would be most injudicious and undesirable to attempt a settlement of the Blockade question
basis.
on such a
The Chinese Mould, I have no doubt, gladly accept the bribe offered them in the shape of a two articles of
an imposition of a duty on export from Doug Bong be handed over to them lien of arrangements they
to
should never have been allowed to carry out, more particularly as the Collection of such duties in Hougtong Would be no guarantee whati-
* ever
13390
79 394
-ever to exporters (Chinese at- any rate) of salt or opium to China, that no further exactions at the post of import would be levied, but as a matter of fact Ground only be enabling the Chinese. to collect the duty hoice over.
It is indeed to be hope that Her Majesty's Govern. -ment-will never agree to
MW. Hennessy's proposal or b
any arrangement which will, by causing toughout. to cease to be a free port act against the fundamental principle of the Grade of the Colony, which at its opening was, by Royal Proclamation declared to be free (see fir Charles Elliot's proclamation of 7th June 1841); such an arrangement would be most
injurious to the Colony and
CL