No. 1.
Consul Sir B. Robertson to the Earl of Derby-(Received April 10.)
(No. 6.) My Lord,
Canton, March 5, 1878. UNDER, the 7th Article of the 3rd Section of the Agreement of Chefoo, Her Majesty's Minister in China was pleased to appoint me to be Commissioner on his part to establish, in conjunction with an officer to be appointed by the Viceroy of the Two Kuang, and one by his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong, some system that would enable the Chinese Government to protect its revenue without prejudice to the Colony of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Government having long complained of the interference of the Canton Revenue Customs cruizers with the junk trade of that Colony,
As I know from my experience of Chinese negotiations every proposition would be closely contested and discussed, I thought it the best plan to settle a code of regulations with the Chinese authorities, and submit them to the Governor of Hong Kong for his approval or objections, and, when all parties were agreed, to assemble the Commission and ratify them; and this I proceeded to do, but, unfortunately, I was taken ill, and remained so for several months, and when I resumed the negotia- tion, difficulties arose that caused further detention. Ultimately an understanding was arrived at, and I have the honour to transmit, for your Lordship's information, a framed in communication with the copy in English and Chinese of the regulations Viceroy, and a copy of which I sent to the Governor of Hong Kong, of which I understand Mr. Hennessy approves, but as he is unable to say when he will be in a position to give a formal answer, I do not, having your Lordship's instructions not to await the completion of this affair, feel justified in remaining longer, and shall leave for home by the earliest convenient opportunity.
I have, &c. (Signed) B. ROBERTSON.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Proposed Regulations for the Junk Trade of the Colony of Hong Kong. (English Text.)
WHEREAS, by the 7th Article of the 3rd Section of the Agreement entered into at Chefoo on the 13th September, 1876, between Sir Thomas Wade, K.C.B., Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of China, and Li, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China, Senior Grand Secretary, &c., it was agreed to appoint a Commission consisting of a British Consul, an officer of the Hong Kong Government, and a Chinese officer of equal rank in order, to the establishment of some system that shall enable the Chinese Government to protect its revenue without prejudice to the interests of Hong Kong, and for that purpose Sir Thomas Wade has appointed Sir Brooke Robertson, C.B., Her Majesty's Consul at Canton; and Liu Kwên-yih, Governor-General of the Two Kuang, has appointed
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;
his Excellency J. Pope Hennessy, Governor of Hong Kong, has appointed
Commissioners for carrying into effect the above-named Article, and who, in accordance with the authority thus conferred upon them, have agreed upon the following five Rules :---
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