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114. |(90174/16/F)
Sir:-
Foreign office,
291; 24407
REC?
REO 24 MAY 16,
thithy
231916.
With reference to your despatch ho.8 of January 5th 1915 I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter from the Colonial Office enclosing a despatch in which the Government of hongkong deals with the question of the dispute between China
and Portugal regarding jurisdiction over certain islands in the neighbourhood of Macao. wir h. kay'a despatch dated March 16th has, I understand, been sent to you direct from Hongkong.
1 am replying to the suggestion of the Colonial uffice that representations on the subject should be made to the rortuguese Government in the sense that I am loth to undertake such
representations until I hear from you that a settlement of the question would be facilitated by
my doing 80.
It occurs to me that the important interest which this question possesses for the Colony of Hongkong and the desire for your support which was expressed by the ratuguese Linister in January 1915 may enable you to assist in smoothing over the differences now existing between the two parties to
Kight honourable
the
Sir J.N. Jordan, G.C.1.E., K.C.B.,
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