to maintain a native of Hong Kong must rest with
the municipal authorities of Hong Kong rather than
with the municipal authorities of the United King-
dom
I am to say that My Lords concur in the opinion
thus expressed by His Lordship and consider that the
soundness of it is not affected by the argument of
the Colonial Office that, since the Colony are
compelled to support foreign lunatics, they cannot
fairly be called upon to receive their own lunatics
back from abroad.
The question only arises with regard to
countries with which no mutual arrangement has been
cane to such as that made with the Italian Govern-
mont. As pointed out in the penultimate paragraph
of your letter under reply, the local authorities
in the United Kingdom suffer by the absence of
such a mutual arrangement with countries like China;
and it seems to My Lords that local authorities in
Colonies, which have the benefit of the mutual arrangements made between the United Kingdom and
certain
532
Se
certain foreign Governments, should, like the
United Kingdom, bear the inconvenience and expense
arising from the repatriation of their own paupers
from countries with which no such arrangements
exist.
From the foregoing remarks Lord Salisbury
will gather that My Lords are in general accord
with the views contained in the draft despatch.
(Signed)
I am, &c.,
Francis Mowatt.