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employment. I have asked the opinion of the Chinese Justices of the Peace on this point, and will forward it when received. I annex copy of a letter of the Honourable Mr Russell, Puisne Judge, on the subject of extending the punishment of whipping, and would beg to refer Your Lordship to my despatch, No 2044 of 15th instant, in which I have stated my opinion that the time has come for reconsidering the alteration which was made in the law a few years ago.
You informed me that Lord Kimberley gave his assent to these alterations with some hesitation, for in his despatch No 29 of 29th July, 1880, he observes, "it must be borne in mind, however, that it is not always safe to conclude that punishments which are unsuited to a European community can be dispensed with in dealing with such a population as the Chinese population at Hong Kong, and it will be necessary therefore that the effect of the changes which you recommend