June, 1899, and the subsequent correspondence that the excuse of maintaining this light station being due to her and the Earl of Hopetoun's request at the request of the Tunis was over as stated in your Lockhart's letter to the Acting Commissioner of Customs, dated 27th February last. I do not consider that the Earl of Hopetoun should be held liable for the maintenance of the lighthouse for any period before the 1st of January last.
3. I shall afford you no objection for asking the Legislative Council to vote the sum of $2,943.60 to defray "the cost of furnishing the Chinese furniture, etc. in use at the Tai-O Light station"; and I raise no objection to the Government praying for the cost of maintaining the lighthouse from 1 January last inclusively.