Tai-po-tai.
547
His Excellency will, therefore, be glad if His Excellency the Viceroy will depute an Officer of suitable rank to be present at the ceremony as a mark of the cordial relations that exist between the two nations.
As the entire administration will be assumed by this Government on the 17th instant, the necessity for the presence of Chinese troops in the new territory will cease on that date and their place will be taken by British troops and Police.
The functions of all Chinese Officials will, of course, cease at the same time, and no doubt arrangements will be made by the Viceroy for their withdrawal on the 19th instant.
In communicating the above to the Viceroy, I am to ask you to be good enough to again express to His Excellency an expression of the Governor's thanks for the promptitude with which His Excellency sent troops to maintain order in the new territory pending His Excellency the Governor's assumption of the Government.
I have &c.
J. B. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary.