CO129-061 - Public Offices - 1856 — Page 225

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

out the convoy system, & when seeking it would do away in a great measure with the chance of their jealousy being roused. The Portuguese settlement of Macao can & I am convinced would lend the Hongkong Government invaluable assistance in carrying out such a plan as is suggested; its prosperity is much affected by the present prevalence of piracy. & its Governor Senor Amaral has in frequent conversations with myself on this very topic expressed an anxious wish that some great measure might be adopted for rendering the seas more secure

With

regard to the Chinese I would most earnestly press upon you Sir the fact, that, although nominally speaking all Chinese are subjects of the Emperor, yet in reality the

223

scores of islands which crowd along the face of the sea board & which are the haunts & nurseries of the present race of pirates belong in fact to no power at all & by a system of disarmament & repression of the nature described we should hardly by any possibility come into collision with any of the Chinese authorities. In the good work we cannot expect from so corrupt & weak a power as the Chinese Empire now is the most probable course it will adopt will be to ignore the matter altogether or accept it as an act of rapine. I propose therefore that a communication be made to the Chinese officials at each of the 5 ports that for the protection of trade the English propose to cause a general disarmament all along the coast & that they will keep on foot a force sufficient to make up to the honest trader the loss of self-defence he may thereby

suffer.

This is as much as need be done with a barbarian power & I hold the Chinese government to be barbarous in the fullest & strongest sense of the word.

Edit History

2026-05-18 08:33:34 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

nations represented in Hongkong and in China, and that would be sufficient Except as regards the three I have above specified. The Americans have the largest trade next to ourselves, & their property and establishments in Hongkong are so great that quoad the Colony their interests may be considered identical with ours. Their Cooperation might be sought in carrying out the convoy system, & when seeking it would do away in a great measure with the chance of their jealousy being roused. The Portuguese settlement of Macao can & I am convinced would lend the Hongkong Government invaluable assistance in carrying out such a plan as is suggested; its prosperity is much affected by the present prevalence of piracy. & its Governor Senor Amaral has in frequent conversations with myself on this very topic expressed an anxious wish that some great measure might be adopted for rendering the seas more secure With regard to the Chinese I would most earnestly press upon you Sir the fact, that, although nominally speaking all Chinese are subjects of the Emperor, yet in reality the * 223 scores of islands which crowd along the face of the sea board & which are the haunts & nurseries of the present race of pirates belong in fact to no power at all & by a system of disarmament & repression of the nature described we should hardly by any possibility come into collision with any of the Chinese authorities. In the good work we cannot expect from so corrupt & weak a power as the Chinese Empire now is the most probable course it will adopt will be to ignore the matter altogether or accept it as an act of rapine. I propose therefore that a communication be made to the Chinese officials at each of the 5 ports that for the protection of trade the English propose to cause a general disarmament all along the coast & that they will keep on foot a force sufficient to make up to the honest trader the loss of self-defence he may thereby suffer. This is as much as need be done with a barbarian power & I hold the Chinese government to be barbarous in the fullest & strongest sense of the word.

Baseline (Original)

nations represented in Hongkong and in China, and that would be suffrecent Except as regards the three I have above specified. The Americans have the largest tride next to ourselves, & their property and Staélishments in Houghong are so great that quoad the Colony their interests may be considered dentical with ours. Their Cooperation might be sought in carrying · out the convoy system, & wen seeking it would do away in a great measure with the chance of their jealousy being roused. The Portuguese settlement of Macao can & Jam convinced would lend the Hongkong Government invaluable assistance in carrying out such a a plan As is suggested; its prosperity is much Affected by the present prevalence of piracy. & its Sovernor Senor Simaraes has in prequent conversations with myself on this very topic expressed n anxious with that some great measure might be adopted for rendering the seas more secure With regard to the Chinese I would most carnestly press upon you Sir the fast, that, although nomenally speaking all Chinese are subjects of the Emperor, yet in reality the * 223 scores of islands which crowd along the face of the sea bord & which are the haunts & nurseries of the present race of pirates belong in fact to no power at all & by a system of disarmament & repression of the nature described we should hardly by any possibility come into collision with Any of the Chinese authorities. Apstance. In the good work we cannot expect from so corrupt & weak a power as the Chinese Empire now is the most probable course it will adopt will be to ignore the matter altogether or accept it as an act of rapalage. I propose therefore that a communication be made to the Chinese offiecals at each of the 5 ports that for the protection of trade the English propose to cause a general disarmament all along the coast & that they will Keep on foot a force sufficcent to make up to the honest trader the loss of self-defence he may thereby meur. This is as much as need be done with a barbarian power & I hold the Chinese government to be barbarean In the fullest & strongest sense of the word.

2026-05-18 08:33:34 · Baseline

View content

· out the convoy system, & wen seeking it would do away in a great measure with the chance of their jealousy being roused. The Portuguese settlement of Macao can & Jam convinced would lend the Hongkong Government invaluable assistance in carrying out such a a plan As is suggested; its prosperity is much Affected by the present prevalence of piracy. & its Sovernor Senor Simaraes has in prequent conversations with myself on this very topic expressed n anxious with that some great measure might be adopted for rendering the seas more secure With

regard to the Chinese I would most carnestly press upon you Sir the fast, that, although nomenally speaking all Chinese are subjects of the Emperor, yet in reality the

223

scores of islands which crowd along the face of the sea bord & which are the haunts & nurseries of the present race of pirates belong in fact to no power at all & by a system of disarmament & repression of the nature described we should hardly by any possibility come into collision with Any of the Chinese authorities. Apstance. In the good work we cannot expect from so corrupt & weak a power as the Chinese Empire now is the most probable course it will adopt will be to ignore the matter altogether or accept it as an act of rapalage. I propose therefore that a communication be made to the Chinese offiecals at each of the 5 ports that for the protection of trade the English propose to cause a general disarmament all along the coast & that they will Keep on foot a force sufficcent to make up to the honest trader the loss of self-defence he may thereby

meur.

This is as much as need be done with a barbarian power & I hold the Chinese government to be barbarean In the fullest & strongest sense of the word.

CO129-061 - Public Offices - 1856 — Page 225

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note