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regrettable incidents which attended the taking possession of the leased territory in the Kowloon peninsula, sufficiently shew the danger of such a course to the common interests of the two countries.
Having regard to the transitionary state of China the Imperial Government consider it of the greatest importance for the development of the Commerce of the Country, that the changes which are now taking place in China should not be precipitated by the ill-advised action of incompetent persons; and the Governments of the United States and Japan, recognizing this, lately refused asylum to Kang-Yu-Wei, when he visited those countries with the view of influencing the large Chinese populations resident there by his crude notions of reform.
Great Britain is not less interested in the welfare and peaceful development of China, than are Japan and the United States; and she has given at least as many proofs of her benevolent intentions towards China as these countries. The Imperial Government, are therefore, induced to hope that the request they have been instructed to make, that Kang-Yu-Wei be not allowed to reside at Hongkong, Singapore or Burmah, places where there are very large Chinese populations, may receive at the hands of Her Majesty's Government the same favourable consideration which a similar request received at the hands of the Governments above mentioned.
I have, &c.,
Löfengluh.
(Signed)