CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12] — Page 17

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

1855, and your reply #42 of pic last, in which the subject of a Light House on the Bias Rocks was discussed.

I fear I may not have given sufficient description of the Island, as it is called, on the Pedra Branca, inasmuch as it is referred to in secretariat as "not merely within the Colonial Possessions of the British Government" and part of "the territories of another nation".

If another nation has any claim, the patch of soil accumulated within the dangerous coral reef of the Pedra Branca can hardly be called part of it. Now I am not aware that any authority has ever been exercised there by the Chinese or any other nation.

It is totally uninhabited and though known to Chinese mariners, I doubt if the Chinese Government have any knowledge of it.

My despatch above referred to has already expressed an opinion as to the levy of a toll in strong. Tour for the defrayal of the expense, and if I were to place before the Mercantile Community of Colony the proposal of such a toll, I feel certain that the answer would be that the whole trade with China was interested and that the whole trade with China should bear the burden.

Edit History

2026-05-18 05:45:25 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

1855, and your reply #42 of pic last, in which the subject of a Light House on the Bias Rocks was discussed. I fear I may not have given sufficient description of the Island, as it is called, on the Pedra Branca, inasmuch as it is referred to in secretariat as "not merely within the Colonial Possessions of the British Government" and part of "the territories of another nation". If another nation has any claim, the patch of soil accumulated within the dangerous coral reef of the Pedra Branca can hardly be called part of it. Now I am not aware that any authority has ever been exercised there by the Chinese or any other nation. It is totally uninhabited and though known to Chinese mariners, I doubt if the Chinese Government have any knowledge of it. My despatch above referred to has already expressed an opinion as to the levy of a toll in strong. Tour for the defrayal of the expense, and if I were to place before the Mercantile Community of Colony the proposal of such a toll, I feel certain that the answer would be that the whole trade with China was interested and that the whole trade with China should bear the burden.

Baseline (Original)

1855, and your reply #42 of pic last, in which the subject of a Light Home on the Bites Souls Arme was discussed. I fear I may not have given cufficient decoristion of the Siland, as it is called, on the Rates Shoul, inasmuel as it is referred to in secrated as "not me your desiatel of the Polonial Paunions of the British Goon" aud part of "the territories of another nation". of the territories If another The patch of soil rccumulated within the dangerous Inal reef of hardly be called the Pratas can now am I aware that Steviton; any authority Las Ever been exereind there by the Chinese or any other nation. C It is totally uninhabitin and though Known to Chinese if 14 Mariners I doubt if the Chinese Government have any of it. Knowledge My despatch above referred to has already expressed un Minion as to the love of a toll in trong. Tour ofor the defrayal of the expense, and this if I were to place before the Mercantile Community of Colony the proposal of such a tril, I feel certain that the answer would be that the whole Brake with China was interested and that the whole Trade with China should bear the burden.

2026-05-18 05:45:25 · Baseline

View content

1855, and your reply #42 of pic last, in which the subject of a Light Home on the Bites Souls

Arme was discussed.

I fear I may not have given cufficient decoristion of the Siland, as it is called, on the Rates Shoul,

inasmuel as it is referred to in

secrated as "not me

your desiatel

the Polonial

Paunions of the British Goon" aud

part of "the territories of another nation".

of the territories

If another

The patch of soil rccumulated within the dangerous Inal reef of

hardly be called

the Pratas can

now am I aware that

Steviton;

any authority

Las

Ever

been exereind

there by the Chinese or any other nation.

It is totally uninhabitin

and though Known to Chinese

Mariners I doubt if the Chinese Government have any

of it.

Knowledge

My despatch above referred

to has already expressed

un Minion

as to the love of a toll in trong. Tour ofor the defrayal of the expense, and

this

if I were to place before the Mercantile Community of Colony the proposal of such a tril, I feel certain that the answer would be that the whole Brake with China was interested and that the whole Trade with China should bear the burden.

CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12] — Page 17

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note