My Lord:-
C.O. 100.
7, SEAMORE PLACE, LONDON.
17th March 1903. 24 MAR OR 67
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Mr. Campbell's letter of yesterday's date covering copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, together with copy of a despatch from Sir Henry Blake, Governor of Hongkong dated 31st January last, giving his views on the new Commercial Treaty with China which I am glad to observe are generally favourable.
As regards Rule No.8 of the new Inland Waters Steam Navigation rules, this rule was framed with the object of getting rid of the disability, which had been imposed by the Chinese, on steamers engaged in trade between Treaty ports from doing trade at intermediate places, a prohibition which had not only entailed serious loss on some British ship-owners in China, but had also retarded the development of trade generally.
Under the new Rule 8 a registered steamer may
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&C.,
&c.,
&C.,
now