CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10] — Page 331

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Hanghong 18 - September 1856

To the Hon'ble. H. I. Mercer Ly

Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

I have the honor to request that you will bring the following matter under the consideration of the Governor, His Excellency Sir John Bowring.

I left this Port for the North of China on the 30th July last, leaving in this Colony, and, as I then considered, under the protection of the Imperial Laws, three newly erected Chinese Tenements, on Inland Lot No. 11, fronting a street known as Lyndhurst Terrace.

On my return, on the 12th instant, I found that the Tenements in question had disappeared. I learnt that they had been demolished by a gang of convicts under the superintendence of a Government Surveyor, and that the materials had been carried away, now being used in the construction of a new Government Building. Upon further enquiry, I learnt that this outrageous act was done under the alleged authority of a Magistrate's warrant; but as I am not aware that I violated any law which should involve the confiscation of my rightful property, I must at once deny the validity of any such warrant, as well as of any enactment upon which it may profess to have been founded.

However, that is a question for future investigation before the highest tribunal in the State. My immediate object in this letter is to establish and record the following Protest against the wrongs suffered in this behalf, with a view to such redress as I may hereafter find myself entitled to.

I hereby solemnly protest against every act or omission on the part of His Excellency Bowring's Government which have tended to, connived at, or in any way permitted or suffered the demolition of my property.