The Commission were unanimous, approved -
The Commission have held three sittings and have adjourned for a week to enable Sir Robert Hart to obtain instructions from the Imperial Government at Peking. I forward for your Lordship's information an interim report from the Chinese Commissioner - Everything depends upon what attitude the Government of Macao may choose to adopt as unless it consents to make some provisions corresponding to those proposed to be enacted in Hong Kong the scheme contemplated in the Draft Ordinance prepared...
Enclosure 2.
14531 RECR 13
...prepared by N. Purcell. It is thought that it would benefit Macao to the serious detriment of Hong Kong.
The stipulation under which the Commission was appointed commences by reciting that the Governor of Hong Kong had long complained of the interference of the Customs cruisers with the junk trade of the Colony. It is ten years since the stipulation was framed and it may be remembered that Sir John Pope-Hennessy reported that all complaints had ceased. Since my return from Cyprus in 1882 I have heard of no such complaints and I do not believe that...