But leaving aside that rites according
• according to English law were proper rites" and "rites according "proper rites ! It was quite patent therefore that the Ordinance would cause inconvenience to the Chinese, and he desired to have a further opportunity of minutely considering the matter. Thereupon the Attorney General said: "Hongkong is a British not a Chinese possession. If Chinese cannot comply with the law, they need not come to Hong Kong, they however must abide by the laws, without question as to whether the laws are agreeable or not, and must be made to obey them." The present dynasty during a rule of 300 years has not ventured to change Chinese customs which took shape thousands of years ago, nor has any alteration been attempted in Hong Kong since its colonisation fifty years ago.
We do not know whether the Attorney General was purposely speaking in violent language, or merely using vivid language, or actually meant what he said. If however it is true that people who are unable to comply with the law need not come to Hongkong, we pray that Your Lordship, before promulgating any law, will give due notice to the Chinese, so that every one may know exactly how the matter stands, and that honest people may not be implicated in violations of the law.
We have also heard that some people say that it is impossible for a concubine to rank as a legal wife, but those who speak thus are utterly ignorant of Chinese customs. Chinese take concubines to ensure a line of successors; in wealthy families, women of many conditions may be found, in poor classes...