CO885-(10-11) — Page 535

6272.

SIB,

No. 418.

(Hong Ko¥G.)

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Foreign Office, June 29, 1866. I AM directed by the Earl of Clarendon to request that you will inform Mr. Secretary Cardwell that the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown has been taken with respect to the questions raised in your letter of the 13th instant as to the terms of the proclamation of the Governor of Hong Kong affecting Spanish or Chilian cruisers visiting that port, and I am to state to you that Lord Clarendon is advised that the Governor of Hong Kong was right in treating the Spanish vessel of war, although carrying cargo, as a vessel of war; and that as these proclamations were merely in accordance with Her Majesty's orders issued in this country, to which all Her Majesty's Colonial Governors were bound to give effect (and which contain no exception as to vessels carrying mails), they cannot be regarded as being of too stringent a character.

I am, &c. (Signed) E. HAMMOND.

Sir F. Rogers, Bart., K.C.B.

0 16978.-91. 15.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

PILTIC.O. 885

TTT}

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO