CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2] — Page 95

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

94

the

fact of irregularities having been committed, and fully admitting that abuses might have prevailed among

the subordinates either from excess of zeal or evil design, he could not help thinking there had been much

exaggeration. It was possible, he thought, that the Colonial Authorities lent a too willing ear to all the stories that reached them from soi-disant legitimate traders and sufferers by the rapacity or violence of Chinese Officials and Revenue Cruisers. In very many cases they came from smugglers caught in the act, who fully merited any punishment they had suffered. He hinted that China had an undoubted right to protect its revenue and adopt such measures as might be found necessary.

This, of course, I fully admitted, and said it was possible, in the state of hostile feeling into which the Colonists had been thrown by arbitrary acts and supposed designs to destroy their trade, that a ready credence had been given to all the stories and complaints of Chinese Junkmen. But what was really important now was to consider such measures as should provide against these things in future.

In the interview on the second day, this subject was again largely entered into, and much more to the main issue; only the effect was the same on both sides.

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2026-05-20 11:56:14 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
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94 the fact of irregularities having been committed, and fully admitting that abuses might have prevailed among the subordinates either from excess of zeal or evil design, he could not help thinking there had been much exaggeration. It was possible, he thought, that the Colonial Authorities lent a too willing ear to all the stories that reached them from soi-disant legitimate traders and sufferers by the rapacity or violence of Chinese Officials and Revenue Cruisers. In very many cases they came from smugglers caught in the act, who fully merited any punishment they had suffered. He hinted that China had an undoubted right to protect its revenue and adopt such measures as might be found necessary. This, of course, I fully admitted, and said it was possible, in the state of hostile feeling into which the Colonists had been thrown by arbitrary acts and supposed designs to destroy their trade, that a ready credence had been given to all the stories and complaints of Chinese Junkmen. But what was really important now was to consider such measures as should provide against these things in future. In the interview on the second day, this subject was again largely entered into, and much more to the main issue; only the effect was the same on both sides.
Baseline (Original)
94 the fact of irregularities having been committed, and fully admitting that abuses might have prevailed among the subordinates either from excess of zeal or evil design, he could not help thinking there had been much exaggerated. It was possible he thought that the Colonial Anthailies leut a too willing car to all the stories that reached them from soidisant legitimate traters and sufferers by the rapacity or violence of Chinese Officials and Revenne Cruisers. In very many cases there came from smugglers caught in the act, who fully morited any punishment, they have suffered. De hinted that China had an undoubted, right to protect it's revenue, and adopt such measures may 1 to think- and with its run people and Nefels, as might be found nccesary. This of course I fully admitted, # and said it was possible in the stati of hostile feeling into which the Colonins had been thrown by arbitrary acts and supposed designs to destroy their trade, that a Coo -ready credence had been given to all the Stories and complaines 4 Chineri Linkmen. But what was now was to concent really important now was such measures ar should provide against these things in future. In the interview on the second day, this subject was was again largely entered into, and much mori, to main is the same on but in the effect! was sade both sides; only on the secons
2026-05-20 11:56:14 · Baseline
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94

the

fact of irregularities having been committed, and fully admitting that abuses might have prevailed among

the subordinates either from excess of zeal or evil design, he could not help

thinking there had been much

exaggerated. It was possible he thought that the Colonial Anthailies leut a too willing car to all the stories that reached them from soidisant legitimate traters and sufferers by the rapacity or violence of Chinese Officials and Revenne Cruisers. In very many cases there came from smugglers caught in the act, who fully morited any punishment, they have suffered. De hinted that China had an undoubted, right to protect it's revenue, and adopt such measures

may

1

to think- and with its

run

people and

Nefels, as might be found nccesary.

This of course I fully admitted,

#

and said it was

possible in the stati

of hostile feeling into which the Colonins had been thrown by arbitrary acts and

supposed designs to destroy their trade,

that

a

Coo

-ready credence had been

given to all the Stories and complaines

4

Chineri Linkmen. But what was

now was to concent

really important now was

such measures ar

should provide

against these things in future.

In the interview on the second day,

this subject was

was again largely entered

into, and much mori,

to

main is the same

on

but in the

effect!

was sade

both sides; only on the secons

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