227
leased territories, reference was at once made to leading
authorities in London. It was then ascertained that tho
persons inhabitating the New Territory, who wore bufore
the cession Chinese subjects, wore to be regarded, for
all purposes, as British subjects, inasmuch as cession
of territory, even though the cession be for a term of
years only, effects a change in the nationality of the
inhabitants, and for the term of the cession the inhub-
itants become British subjects.
The case, forming subject of this correspondence,
being one governed by International Law, and an author-
itative exposition of such law having been ob ained, it
must be evident that it is for the parties interested to
be guided thereby, and I would, therefore, beg Your
Excellency to lay aside bias and to consider the matter
dispassionately and broad-mindedly, in order that the
harmonious relations, happily existing between the Liang
Kuang Provinces and the Colony of Hongkong, may remain
undisturbed.
爆燃
To sum up: -
1. -