9529.
No. 726.
(Hong KoNG.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
MY LORD,
We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Odo Russell's
Temple, September 2, 1871. letter of the 28th ultimo, stating that he was directed to transmit to us the accom- panying letter with its enclosures from the Colonial Office, relative to the deportation from Saigon to Hong Kong of a number of Chinese subjects, and he was to request that we would take these papers into our consideration and furnish your Lordship with our opinion as to the proceedings of the French authorities at Saigon in sending these persons to Hong Kong, and also whether the course taken by the Colonial autho- rities at Hong Kong in the matter was a proper one.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to
Report
That we are of opinion that your Lordship may properly direct Her Majesty's ambassador in Paris to remonstrate strongly with the French Government against the conduct of the captain of the "Omer et Julie " in landing in the Colony of Hong Kong 50 destitute Chinese subjects deported from Saigon without any provision for their maintenance, and urgently to request that such conduct may not be repeated.
We assume that his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Hong Kong was autho- rised by the local Ordinances to direct the transfer of the Chinese from Hong Kong to Canton, on which assumption we are of opinion that he adopted a proper course in transferring them at once to the protection of the nearest Chinese authorities.
We have, &c. (Signed) R. P. COLLIER.
J. D. COLERIDGE. TRAVERS TWISS.
The Earl Granville, K.G.
&c.
&c.
o 16278-719. 25.--5/86
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
MC.O. 885
11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO