26.
2
97
were able to draw the distinction between the British Government and that of France, influenced by bad feelings. The relations between the local Government and the Chinese Mandarins were also strained. The confidential letter that I wrote to His Excellency the Major General, Administering the Government, and the letter of H.B.M.'s Chargé d'Affaires at Peking deals with this. (Enclosure F).
At the same time a departure was noticeable in the Policy that previous to 1883 had governed the Registrar General's Department, and so-called Religious Ceremonies, consisting of Processions, Theatrical and Puppet shows, were permitted in increased numbers throughout the Colony. The evils attending these were duly pointed out by the Police Commission in 1872. The complaints (Enclosure G) of the Police on these matters were overridden by the Registrar General's Department, which was supported by His Excellency the Major General. To this I will afterwards allude.
In 1883 a Commission on Smuggling was appointed. At page 99 of the Blue Book will be found a letter written to the Government by myself complaining of the freedom of action permitted to armed gangs of smugglers (Enclosure H). The Commission drew attention to my letter but no alteration was made.
During the past year the Chinese Government made vigorous and systematic efforts to crush this smuggling.