of Singapore, in California, in the U.S., in the Spanish possession of Cuba, and at Nagasaki in Japan, there have also been Consuls for many years charged with the control of the general commercial interests of Chinese merchants, mutual concord having prevailed in every instance.
It has to be observed, however, that at Hongkong, which is the nearest place of any to the Chinese mainland, and where there is at present a flourishing condition of commercial prosperity; where the concourse of Chinese traders is daily on the increase and where the influx of Chinese residents grows continually larger, such a complexity of business has arisen that the presence of some person to control it has become indispensable. It naturally devolves therefore upon the Chinese Govt to establish a Consul at Hongkong to assume control of the general interests of Chinese merchants and subjects.