Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hong Kong, 6th November:
The Rt. Honble The Earl of Derby
RECD
14 DEC 33
H. M's. Principal Secretary of State
for the Colonies
My Lord,
I have the honor, by desire of the Committee of this Chamber, to forward copies of a Correspondence which has taken place between them and Vice Admiral Willes, upon the subject of the inadequate protection afforded at the treaty ports by the Naval authorities.
The Committee desire to submit to
your Lordship that the naval force detailed for the protection of Hong Kong and the Southern treaty ports is totally inadequate to protect British Mercantile interests in these localities
during the summer months.
The communities at the different treaty
ports have from time to time remonstrated
against the inadequate protection given to them
by the Naval authorities and the recent outbreak in Canton is sufficient to show that the apprehensions entertained were not altogether groundless.
The Committee desire to impress upon your Lordship the fact that, in the best informed quarters, the people in the adjacent province
are