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སསྡུད ན པ 1:
of the island of Kulangsu in the harbour at Query, As I did not wish to disapprove the application, I asked the English Officer in command to reply to the Comptroller that I should be glad to comply with the request.
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I received by last mail a request dated 1 June from the Taotai of Amoy, requesting me to have the date on which the Officer
COPY.
TRANSLATION.
Sir,
Taotai Yamen,
Amoy, 10th May 1899.
We take the liberty of addressing Your Excellency on a matter that lies near our hearts.
We are ambitious to improve the defences of Amoy and purpose building one or two forts on the Island of Kulangsu; to do this we must have expert advice as to designs and mounting.
Knowing well your country is noted for experts in this line and has been China's truest and greatest friend we venture to appeal to you for assistance.
We venture to hope that Your Excellency will send up one of your many able officials to examine the locality in which these forts are to be built and to draw up plans.
The expenses in connection with your official's visit here we would gladly pay, and we should also arrange with our foreign...
Sir, Henry Blake, C.M.G.
Governor of Hong Kong and Dependencies