CO129-092 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [4-6] — Page 330

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

Her Majesty's Government, and that the relaxation proposed was the utmost that could be afforded; and express His Excellency's surprise that this Chamber should, with the Treaty Tariff before them, have expected from the Government an active cooperation simply to act in what would be an act of illegality. You conclude by giving His Excellency's promise, that any change or modification in the Proclamation of February under orders from Her Majesty's Government, shall be communicated to the Chamber without loss of time.

In reply, I have to state that the Committee on my letter are unable to trace in yours of the 15th any lurking inclination to engage His Excellency in a discussion on the expediency of the orders of the Home Government. Nothing is further from their intentions. It is very desirable to limit this correspondence to its precise object; and the Committee do not therefore advert to the Treaty stipulations for the regulation of commercial intercourse in Chinese ports, which are alien to the functions of the local government, but confine themselves to the laws affecting trade in Hongkong anterior to the publication of the Proclamations of February and that of February 25th. Saltpetre was an article of legal merchandise in this Colony as any other.

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B. Her Majesty's Government, and that the relaxation proposed was the utmost that could be afforded; and express His Excellency's surprise that this Chamber should, with the Treaty Tariff before them, have expected from the Government an active cooperation simply to act in what would be an act of illegality. You conclude by giving His Excellency's promise, that any change or modification in the Proclamation of February under orders from Her Majesty's Government, shall be communicated to the Chamber without loss of time. In reply, I have to state that the Committee on my letter are unable to trace in yours of the 15th any lurking inclination to engage His Excellency in a discussion on the expediency of the orders of the Home Government. Nothing is further from their intentions. It is very desirable to limit this correspondence to its precise object; and the Committee do not therefore advert to the Treaty stipulations for the regulation of commercial intercourse in Chinese ports, which are alien to the functions of the local government, but confine themselves to the laws affecting trade in Hongkong anterior to the publication of the Proclamations of February and that of February 25th. Saltpetre was an article of legal merchandise in this Colony as any other. Page 330 Page 331 180

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7. B. Her Majesty's Goveniment, and that the relaxation proposed was the utmost - that could be afforded; and cxpress His Excellency's surprise that this Chamber should, with the Treaty Tariff before them, have expected from the Government an active cooperation simply act ar in what would be of illegality. you conclude by giving His Excellency's fromise, that any change or modification in the Proclamation of Fibenary under orders from Her Majesty's -Govemment, shall be .car 20 th uncated to the Chamber without loss of time- In reply I have to state that the Committee my. letter are unable to trace in of the 15th any lurking - ր 324 inclination to engage His Excellency in a discussion the expediency of the orders of the House Government- nothing It is م کمه very further from their intentions. desirable to limit this are alien to correspondence to its precise object; and the Committee do not therefore advert to the Treaty stipulations for the regulation of commercial intercourse in Chinese ports, which the functions of the local goumnment, but confine themselves to the laws affecting trade in Hongkong Anterior to the publication of the Proclamations of February of February 25th Saltputre was article of legal merchandige in this belong as any. Page 330Page 331 180

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Her Majesty's Goveniment, and that the

relaxation proposed

was

the utmost

- that could be afforded; and cxpress His Excellency's surprise that this Chamber should, with the Treaty Tariff before them, have expected from the Government

an active cooperation

simply

act

in what would be

of illegality. you

conclude by giving His Excellency's

fromise, that

any change or modification

in the Proclamation of Fibenary

under orders from Her Majesty's -Govemment, shall be

.car

uncated

to the Chamber without loss of time-

In reply I have to state that

the Committee

my.

letter

are unable to trace in

of the 15th any lurking -

324

inclination to engage His Excellency

discussion

the expediency

of the orders of the House Government-

nothing

It is

م کمه

very

further from their intentions.

desirable to limit this

are alien to

correspondence to its precise object; and the Committee do not therefore advert to the Treaty stipulations for the regulation of commercial intercourse in Chinese ports, which the functions of the local goumnment, but confine themselves to the laws affecting trade in Hongkong Anterior to the publication of the Proclamations of February

of February 25th Saltputre

was

article

of legal

merchandige in this belong

as any.

Page 330Page 331

180

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