348

15th. of that month.

3.

I do not now consider it necessary, nor does Mr. May, that we should ask for such treatment of Hongkong which could only have been satisfactorily secured by a further convention or by an interchange of diplomatic notes with China and scarcely without admitting some exercise of authority by Chinese Officials in British Territory. The present arrangements, which were summarised in my telegram of 1744 7 August 4th.), follow very closely the terms of the Convention,

except that embarkation in ships complying with the Regulations contained in the Schedule annexed thereto is at Hongkong instead of actually at the Treaty Port of Wuchow, which is not accessible to such ships. There is a halt at Hongkong in the passage of the emigrants from the Wuchow depot to the ship.

The examination by a qualified officer nominated by the British Consular Officer or his delegate, required by Section 3 of Article IV, is conducted at Hongkong, and the questioning of emigrants which takes place before the British Consul and the Chinese Inspector at Wuchow, required by the same Section, is repeated at Hongkong by a delegate of the British Consular Officer, viz. the Transvaal Emigration Agent.

July 1904.

4.

I annex for your information a copy of the provisional arrangement entered into on the 25th July last by Mr. C. W. Campbell, the British Consul-General at Canton acting on behalf of the Transvaal Mining Companies' Agent, with Wen Tsung-yao acting on behalf of the Viceroy of Canton. I yesterday had an opportunity of discussing this arrangement with Mr. Campbell who informed me that the Viceroy had approved it. I pointed out that the 9th clause which stipulated for the

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