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FOREIGN OFFICE. Her? 8 APR 99
April 7
1809. 3
Sir:-
I lost no time in communicating with Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to the objections of the Imperial Chinese Government to withdraw the Chinese Customs stations from the territory leased to Great Britain near Hongkong, which were stated in the telegram from the Tsungli Yamen communicated by you on the 11th ultimo.
I have since received telegrams from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking on the same subject.
I now have the honour to point out that the proposal that the Hongkong Government shall collect the Chinese Opium Revenue has been made in the interests of the Chinese Government and with a view to checking smuggling and avoiding the difficulties which have been occasioned in the past.
Her Majesty's Government desire to reciprocate the