CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign Office.
C.O
20577
September 29. 1896..
132
Memorandum
Sir C. MacDonald. 219 of August 14.
China Association.
Hong Kong Branch
Sir,
I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you, for the confidential information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies a copy of a Memorandum presented by His Excellency Li Hung Chang during his recent visit to this country, proposing the payment of the customs duties in gold instead of silver at the old gold rate.
I am also to enclose a copy of a despatch which Lord Salisbury has addressed to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking and which contains an expression of His Lordship's views on the subject. His Lordship will be glad to receive any observations which Mr Secretary Chamberlain may wish to offer on the proposals of the Chinese Government.
The Under Secretary of State
Colonial Office.