CO129-011 - Sir John Davis - 1845 [1-4] — Page 52

to that effect. This is indeed an excellent measure — of Government, to inspire terror and remove the scourge from the well intentioned. But Hong Kong is a new beginning. The Colony and all is in its infancy.

The people — those who come to trade and traffic — are not very wealthy personages, and the remainder are employed in manual labour and are poor and have no dependence. Many idlers are mixed up with them. Hence there are robbers and murderers and wretches who belong to this brind. Society amongst them; and this is the cause that all along Hong Kong, so frequent losses (theft) occur.

It is my humble opinion, that these people, resembling weeds, transgress at their homes the laws of China, and at Hong Kong sin against the British regulations. It is therefore a matter of great joy to send them beyond the seas, there to die of age and never to return. They are, however, fellows of a violent and stubborn disposition, and having combined in considerable numbers together they have pledged each other to create disturbance. They consider themselves not subjects of China, and are not willing to observe the English laws, and I am therefore apprehensive that the multitude will not willingly submit to it.

The land and naval forces of your Honorable Country are more than sufficient for keeping them in cheek, but still we must guard against an unexpected event. It is moreover a provision of the Supplementary treaty that the subjects of China should be judged by Chinese Mandarins.