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· 2
British Flag are given a clearance to trade to Ports which are forbidden by the Treaty of Tientsin (1858), Article
XLVII, that if they are not given this clearance they
can expect no protection should they contravene this
treaty and that the conference therefore recommended
that the draft Bill mentioned in paragraph 1 above should
be introduced to Legislative Council with the addition
of the words "at his absolute discretion" after "may"
in the last line of Clause 2 (b) of the draft Bill.
4. The Commercial Secretary, Hong Kong, indicated
that without further study of the case he was not
prepared to express an official opinion in favour of
the conference's recommendation though personally he
saw no objection to it.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your nost obedient, humble servant,
/ los hotherth
Governor.
Phy