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Chinese. The Portuguese Goverment fear that such co-
operation between the British and Chinese forces would
seriously prejudice the sovereign rights which Portugal
claims over the island, and they have accordingly
instructed their Minister to express the hope that the
British authorities would refrain from taking any
active measures otherwise than in consultation with
the Governor of Macao, who on his part states that he
has sufficient troops at his disposal to deal with the
situation alone.
I am therefore to request that in order to obviete
any misunderstanding a further telegram may be sent to
the Governor of Hongkong instructing him to direct
that no steps may be taken except after fuli confulta-
tion with the Governor of Macao.
I sm,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
Lan, bu
"