KLASURY 9418
622
REGP 17 JUN 96
whether British or foreign, is strictly prohibited by English law, and if the authorities of any province at any time receive evidence that a British subject is engaged in such malpractices they need only communicate with the nearest British Consul who will at once take the requisite steps to punish him.
I cannot refrain from observing that the provincial authorities at all events in some cases, do not seem disposed to exert themselves to suppress illicit coinage within their jurisdiction, in accordance with the wishes of the Board of Revenue and of the Yamên. I received only three days ago a report from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton to the effect that on January 16th he communicated to the Viceroy a detailed report by a Hongkong policeman showing that both Hongkong and Canton small silver money was being counterfeited at a certain village. He gave the names of the persons concerned and stated that the constable could point out