74
Secretary of State to Sir William Robinson respecting the rumoured deportation by this Government of Chinese Criminals to Australia,
The Acting Colonial Secretary forwards a despatch from the Governor of New South Wales, together with a copy of his reply on the subject. In his despatch of the 8th of July last, he says
It is very satisfactory to the Government of New South Wales to learn that the Governor of Hongkong has throughout his administration held such clear and decided views in opposition to the deportation of Chinese Criminals to here (the Australian) Colonies.
2. How the false rumour in question should have been circulated in spite of my public and repeated declarations on the subject is difficult to understand. Some of my predecessors complained that one or two of the Hongkong papers persistently misrepresented the Governor's proceedings; but, though I am disposed to think there have been a great improvement in the tone of the Hongkong journals since the time of Sir John Bowring, Sir Hercules Robinson and Sir Richard MacDonnell, yet, now and then, some of the critics of the Government in the local press do not seem to be particularly careful in all their statements.
Dec.