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great nation influence China, to make in the far-off part of Asia a friendly to England, apart from the commercial advantages which have followed, it was to be an ally of England. But China is in great uncg. tainty now. Can China ally herself to England? Statesmen there ask themselves this question. They look to the opium smuggling of Hong Kong, and when they also see a system established which cuts to th root of the domestic life of the Chinese and the purity of the home, they do not like the flag under which such things are done. I will only say to you that it is our duty--the duty of public men, to secure for England a staunch and faithful ally in Asia. That can be done. It can be done if we treat the Chinese Government with ordinary fair play and justice; if the local laws and the departments of the local Government set a good instead of a bad example, and if we place Her Majesty's Chinese subjects in Hong Kong on an equal footing with the other inhabitants of the colony.

MR. W. FOWLER, M.P., thanked his Excellency for the information he had given, and referred briefly to the progress of the movement in Great Britain for the abolition of the Contagious Diseases Acts; after which the deputation withdrew.

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Government House,

Hongkong. 17th Dotober, 1882.

12623

Fa

My Lord,

thought it proper to

lay before the Executive Council Your

3 Lordship's despatch No 167 of 1882

covering a letter of dir John Pope Hennessy

respecting

" Right Honourable

7

" Earl of Kimberley,

: Majesty' Kinopal Ceretary of State for the Colonies,

Ve

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