Committee might be considered by some sufficient for all the in purposes required. It is by such Committee that the church at Shanghai - now called a Cathedral out of compliment to the missionary Bishop of China – is managed; and the appointment of Chaplain made. Why should not such a plan be equally applicable to Hongkong?
It seems to me, however, and, from the remarks you have made on the subject in the course of our conversations, I think your Excellency agrees with me, that the fact of there being a Bishop of the Church of England actually resident in Hongkong as his stead quarters for a great part of the year makes considerable difference between this and Shanghai, and should suggest to the loyal Church of England the desirability of placing the Cathedral and other Church interests in Hongkong under what is known as a "Church Body" presided over by the Bishop rather than under a Committee. Hongkong has had an English Bishop resident there since 1851. The first Bishop was granted Letters Patent by the Queen, and was styled "Lord Bishop of Victoria" due to the consequence of this, a Local Ordinance was passed making him supreme in the Cathedral. These Letters Patent, however, were afterwards found to be illegal. They gave the Bishop jurisdiction outside the Crown Colony of Hongkong and recognized his work as Missionary Bishop.
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