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impetus to shipbuilding and other industries in this Colony
and to her trade generally.
3.
The applicants offer to treat the
Chinese Authorities very liberally if the concession they
desire is granted to them, and there can be no doubt that
their project is likely to redound to the benefit both of Hongkong and of China.
The matter is considered of great urgency
because there is reason to believe that persons of other
nationalities ere already moving to obtain mining rights in
the Province mentioned; and I shall be glad, therefore, if
His Majesty's Government can see their way even at this juncture, to further the application that has been made to me with the least possible delay. I have consulted His Britmnic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton on the subject and he is as strongly in favour of the application as I am
myself.
In the meantime I am sending a copy of
the Despatch to His Britammic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at
Peking.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
Bom
Governor,&c..