#5
i
of
bopy Ser.
Audacious at Hong Kong.
17th April
RECP RECO 14 DEC 83)
23
I am commanded by Vice Admiral Commanding in Chief to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th April on the subject of the Naval Protection to be afforded to British commerce in these waters.
In the 2nd para: of that letter you are good enough to make a statement on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, that for considerable time this Harbour has on more than one occasion been left without the presence of an effective vessel of war. The Commander in Chief regrets that the Chamber should have accepted information which is at variance with actual facts.
The Commander in Chief further directs me to acquaint you, for the information of the Chamber of Commerce, that it is his duty to give protection to British Subjects, commerce, and possessions, and that he so disposes of the Squadron under his command as seems to him most conducive to the attainment of that object, or as may be ordered by Her Majesty's Government.
He need not assure the Chamber of Commerce...