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differential treatment of persons within the same category, and might provoke complaints on the ground of alleged favouritism. This point will, however, no doubt be fully discussed by Sir E. Satow with the Governor.
I am to add that the action of His Majesty's Consular Officers in China in these cases is at present governed by the instructions furnished to Mr. O'Conor by the Earl of Rosebery on February 21st, 1894, and to state that, although a few isolated cases of hardship may from time to time occur, the system appears on the whole to work fairly well, and that very careful consideration would be required before any radical change were introduced, necessitating, probably a previous arrangement with the Chinese Government.
The printed enclosure in your letter is returned herewith as requested.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
Charles Hardinge.