In any further communication on this subject, please quote No. 396. and address--- The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, London.
Sir: -
9 Rece 0.0. 1417 Med 13 JAN 06
FOREIGN OFFICE January 12th, 1906.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter marked 44905/05 of the 2nd instant respecting the communication received from the Waiwu-pu in regard to the taxation of land in the new territory of Hongkong.
I am to suggest for the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that it might in present circumstances be preferable to omit any reference in the reply to the Chinese Government to the fact that the inhabitants of the leased territory must be regarded as British subjects during the continuance of the lease.
Sir E. Grey would therefore propose, subject to the concurrence of the Earl of Elgin, to request Sir E. Satow merely to inform the Waiwu-pu that His Majesty's
The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.