15
10464
Enclosures.
Correspondence of Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, relative to the protection of the Treaty Ports.
Sir,
RECP
"Audacious" at Yokohama.
22
14
nd October 1883.
I have the honour to forward for the information of the Lords Commt. of the Admiralty a letter I have received from the Officer Administering the Govt of Hong Kong, enclosing correspondence from the Chamber of Commerce relative to the protection
of the Chinese Treaty Ports.
2. In my General Letter, N°452 of 5th October: Para: 25, I anticipated that the recent disturbance at Canton would lead to what I have reason to believe is a protest against the Cruising Squadron.
3. I beg to remind their Lordships that on the occasion of a threatened outbreak at Canton in Sept. 1880 there was no vessel of war available at Hong Kong, the late riots occurring whilst both the "Swift" and "Teport" were at hand, whilst the "Wivern", or the "Midge," or the "Frolic" and "Tweed" could have been manned, if necessary, by a Crew from the Victor Emanuel and her supernumeraries.
4. In no instance have the services of a man of war been required at a Treaty Port when they were not forthcoming.
5. The Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce [addressed a letter to the] Secretary of the Admiralty.