826
CONFIDENTIAL
No.28.
Colonial Secretary's Office.
Sir,
20th April, 1899.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Pitzipios' letter of the 16th instant, forwarding copy of a further communication from the Viceroy relative to the removal of the Chinese Customs from the new territory, and to refer you to my letter No.26 (Confidential) of yesterday, which explained the misunderstanding on the part of the Viceroy as to the effect of the conversation which took place between His Excellency and the Governor on the subject.
3. In this connection, I am to request you to assure the Viceroy that His Excellency the Governor is most anxious that there shall be as little dislocation of the Chinese Customs' service as possible, and with this object in view deferred the taking over of the leased territory. Further, that His Excellency is at the present time consulting Mr. Hillier, the Commissioner of Customs for Kowloon and District, as to the Opium Ordinance, in order to secure that the most stringent measures shall be taken to prevent opium smuggling, and is most cordially co-operating with that official in the difficult position.
Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,
CANTON