6726.
No. 757. (Hong Kong,)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Mr LORD,
We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's
Temple, May 29, 1872. letter of the 24th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us two Despatches from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking relative to the question of the protection of British subjects of Chinese origin in China, and he was to request that we would take the papers into consideration and report to your Lordship our opinion as to the allegiance due from those persons to the Chinese Government, and as to the instructions which should be sent to Her Majesty's Minister with regard to their protection.
The correspondence alluded to by Mr. Wade respecting the adoption by the Anglo- Chinese of a distinguishing costume was enclosed therewith for reference.
In obedience to your Lordship's command, we have the honour to
Report
That in cases of persons of Chinese origin in China, where the status of a British subject has been properly established and is duly certificated, he is bound to obey the laws and regulations of the place in which he may be either residing or travelling; but he owes no allegiance to the Chinese Government, and is entitled to the protection of the British Government, limited by and subject to the conditions which Her Majesty's Government, in consideration of the Government of China or national peculiarities of the Chinese, may think it right to impose.
We see no reason why as a condition of this protection a particular costume (as provided by Sir R. Alcock's notification of October 7th, 1868) should not be imposed.
But Her Majesty's Minister at Peking will be able to form an opinion whether any modification is required, and he might be instructed to confer with the Chinese Govern- ment on the matter.
When the conditions for protection have been settled, Her Majesty's Minister should be instructed to make it known to the Anglo Chinese that they will be, in Chinese territory, entitled to the protection of Her Majesty's Government only on their com- pliance with the conditions.
The Earl Granville, K.G.
&c
&c.
We have, &c. (Signed)
J. D. COLERIDGE.
G. JESSEL.
J. P. DEANE.
0
16278,-579.
25.-5/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
T། ། ། ། ། FMIC.O. 885
11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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