CO885-(10-11) — Page 689

321.

No. 547A.

(Hong KoNa.)

SIR,

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Foreign Office, January 11, 1869. THE Earl of Clarendon having referred to the Law Officers your letter of the 8th ultimo respecting the opium tax stations which have been erected by the Chinese authorities in the vicinity of Hong Kong, I am now directed by his Lordship to request that you will state to Earl Granville that he has been furnished with their opinion, and that they consider that the Chinese authorities have not in any way infringed the provisions of the Treaty of Tientsin in the proclamation issued by the Viceroy, nor does there appear to them to be any ground for pressing the Chinese authorities to abandon a course, which they had a right to take for the protection of their own interests and revenue, although it may be that some English merchants engaged in a contraband trade may suffer from the effect of their conduct.

I am, &c.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

(Signed) E. HAMMOND.

• 16978.-998.

95.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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