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of State for the Colonies dated 26 November 1892 conveyed to me under 4th Janry Your Excellency's minute of 4 January 1893, and herewith returned, I have the honour to forward herewith Revised Rules for the Regulation of Sea Traffic in Hongkong in time of War which have been drawn up by the Local Defence Committee as part of the Scheme of Defence.
In explanation of the delay which has occurred in submitting them I may mention that the Committee being unable to understand the exact requirements of the Admiralty, which in the various instructions received appeared to be conflicting, postponed the consideration of the question until they could receive the assistance of the new Local Joint Naval and Military Committee who were specially directed to consider this part of the Defence Scheme. Owing to the absence in Japan of one of the Naval Members of that Committee for many months the meeting of the two Committees has only recently taken place, and the Rules as now revised by the Local Defence Committee have received the full concurrence of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, and I