9.
and Nanking at least once, and probably more often
than once, in every year. From either of these
places a visit to Hong Kong is comparatively easy;
and, even if you and your Secretary are not obliged
to visit the Yangtze, I still think that, as a
matter of routine, & visit to Hong Kong once a year
is a matter of the utmost importance to British
interests.
The winter is, of course, the best time
for such a visit and, if you came in the winter, the
aduiral and the General would certainly be here as
well, while a visit by the Chinese Secretaries of
the Straits and Malaya could doubtless be timed to
coincide with your own. I beg you very earnestly to
give this matter your most careful and sympathetic
consideration, for where there is a will there is a
way, and, as I am sure that you have the will, I do
not doubt that the way can be found.
Yours very sincerely,
(sd) C. Clemento
Sir Miles Lampson, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O.,
His Majesty's Minister,
PEKING.
27