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English, come here for a time in the hope of amassing wealth or at least a competence, with which they intend to return to their native lands. Under these circumstances, all who are best capable of forming a sound judgment on this important question agree that the only true and just policy is to lay down such principles and to hold such language as I have attempted in my reply to the recent Deputation. In other words, the Chinese here should be assured (as I have assured them), that the Governor will always be glad to receive full and candid expressions of opinion
respecting public affairs from the Chinese community of Hongkong; and will always be desirous to carry out, as far as possible, the reasonable and well-considered wishes of the Chinese, who form so large and important an element in the population of this Colony. But at the same time, the Chinese should be made to understand (as I have endeavoured to explain to them with combined firmness and courtesy), that "the Colonial