regard to the Hongkong Opium Commission
and the appointment of Sir R. Hart
as an additional
Jam,
You
Chinese Delegate.
most obedient
humble servant,
0.10 Junin
(No. 158.) My Lord,
O'Conor to the
of Ro
ved July
Peking, May 12, 1886. WITH reference to my despatch No. 132 of the 20th ultimo, inclosing copy of a note to the Chinese Government stating that Her Majesty's Government had consented to the Opium Agreement being put in force at once without waiting for the formal exchange of ratifications, I have now the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy in translation of the Yamên's reply, expressing their gratification at this news.
I also inclose a copy of a letter which the Yamên have addressed to Sir Robert Hart, instructing him to proceed to Hong Kong to attend the meetings of the Commission as an additional member on behalf of the Chinese Government.
I learn that the Taotai Shao is still here, and that he does not propose to leave Peking till towards the end of the month.
Page 363
(Translation.)
N. R. O'CONOR: 0.
13798
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 93.
The Tsung-li Yumen to Mr. O'Conor.
RECE
REGO 3 AUG 86.
May 3, 1880
THE Prince and Ministers have the honour to acknowledge the receipt on the 17th April of a note from Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires stating that he called at the Yamên on the 12th March to report the receipt of a telegram from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs announcing the consent of Her Majesty's Government, at the express request of the Chinese Representative in London, to the Opium Agreement of the 18th July, 1885, being put in force at once, without waiting the exchange of the usual ratifications. Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires added that, being now in receipt of a despatch from his Lordship confirmatory of the above telegram, it became his duty to record his earlier statement in an official note.
The Prince and Ministers beg to inform Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires that the receipt of this note has afforded them great satisfaction. They will have the honour of addressing him again as soon as their Commissioner shall have been dispatched to Hong Kong, satisfactory Regulations agreed to, and a day for commencing the new system determined on.
For the present they send this reply.
Inclosure 2 in No. 93.
Instructions from the Tsung-li Yamên to Sir R. Hart, Inspector-General of Customs, dated April 29, 1886.
(Translation.)
YOU are hereby informed that upon the 28th April, 1886, the Yamên submitted a Sub-Memorial to the Throne requesting permission to send Inspector-General Hart to Hong Kong to concert with Shao Taotai in arranging the new Opium Rules, and on the same day the Grand Council were honoured with the receipt of an Imperial Decree in the words, "Let it be as proposed."
It becomes the duty of the Yamên to forward you a copy of their Memorial, together with the Imperial Decree, transcribed with all reverence, and to instruct you respectfully to obey His Majesty's commands:----
[Sub-Memorial presented by the Yamên to the Throne.]
The Yamên would further observe that Shao Yu-lien Taotai, of the Su, Sung, T'ai Circuit in Kiangsu, who is going to Hong Kong jointly to consider the new Opium Rules,
has already arrived in Peking, and, in obedience to the Imperial command, has visited the memorialists' Yamên to consult with them on the various matters connected with his mission. He has also had frequent interviews with Hart, the Inspector-General of Customs, at which every point has been carefully gone into with a view to providing satisfactorily for each particular.
The institution, however, of new Rules requires care in its inception, and it is specially necessary that satisfactory Regulations should be arranged with the British officials at Hong Kong before smuggling can be put a stop to and every fraction of revenue be secured to the Public Exchequer.
It has to be observed that Inspector-General Hart has conducted the Customs Administration for over twenty years, and has given satisfaction in every particular, being thoroughly versed in rules for the prevention of irregularities. The memorialists therefore propose, after consideration of the question in conclave, to send Hart to Hong Kong with [Shao Taotai], as an additional [member of the Commission], as he will be able to form a connecting link in the relations between the Chinese and foreign members, and substantial results can be secured thereby.
Should His Majesty deign to approve of this proposal, the memorialists' Yamen will instruct Inspector-General Hart to go accordingly to Hong Kong with [the...
Page 363
regard to the Hongkong Opium Commission
and the appointment of Sir R. Hart
as an additional
Jam,
You
Chinese Delegate.
most obedient
humble servant,
0.10 Junin
(No. 158.) My Lord,
O'Conor to the
of Ro
ved July
Peking, May 12, 1886. WITH reference to my despatch No. 132 of the 20th ultimo, inclosing copy of a note to the Chinese Government stating that Her Majesty's Government had consented to the Opium Agreement being put in force at once without waiting for the formal, exchange of ratifications, I have now the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy in translation of the Yamên's reply, expressing their gratification at this news.
I also inclose a copy of a letter which the Yamên have addressed to Sir Robert Hart, instructing him to proceed to Hong Kong to attend the meetings of the Commission as an additional member on behalf of the Chinese Government.
I learn that the Taotai Shao is still here, and that he does not propose to leave Peking
till towards the end of the month.
*
(Translation.)
N. R. O'CONOR: 0.
13798
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 93.
The Tsung-li Yumen to Mr. O'Conor.
RECE
REGO 3 AUG 86.
May 3, 1880
THE Prince and Ministers have the honour to acknowledge the receipt on the 17th April of a note from Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires stating that he called at the Yamên on the 12th March to report the receipt of a telegram from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs announcing the consent of Her Majesty's Government, at the express request of the Chinese Representative in London, to the Opium Agreement of the 18th July, 1885, being put in force at once, without waiting the exchange of the usual ratifications. Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires added that, being now in receipt of a despatch from his Lordship confirmatory of the above telegram, it became his duty to record his earlier statement in an official note.
The Prince and Ministers beg to inform Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires that the receipt of this note has afforded them great satisfaction. They will have the honour of addressing him again as soon as their Commissioner shall have been dispatched to Hong Kong, satisfactory Regulations agreed to, and a day for commencing the new system determined on.
For the present they send this reply.
Inclosure 2 in No. 93.
Instructions from the Tsung-li Yamén to Sir R. Hart, Inspector-General of Customs, dated April 29, 1886.
(Translation.)
YOU are hereby informed that upon the 28th April, 1886, the Yamên submitted a Sub-Memorial to the Throne requesting permission to send Inspector-General Hart to Hong Kong to concert with Shao Taotai in arranging the new Opium Rules, and on the same day the Grand Council were honoured with the receipt of an Imperial Decree in the words, "Let it be as proposed."
It becomes the duty of the Yamên to forward you a copy of their Memorial, together with the Imperial Decree, transcribed with all reverence, and to instruct you respectfully to obey His Majesty's commands:----
[Sub-Memorial presented by the Yamên to the Throne.]
The Yamên would further observe that Shao Yu-lien Taotai, of the Su, Sung, T'ai Circuit in Kiangsu, who is going to Hong Kong jointly to consider the new Opium Rules,
has already arrived in Peking, and, in obedience to the Imperial command, has visited the memorialists' Yamên to consult with them on the various matters connected with his mission. He has also had frequent interviews with Hart, the Inspector-General of Customs, at which every point has been carefully gone into with a view to providing satisfactorily for each particular.
The institution, however, of new Rules requires care in its inception, and it is specially necessary that satisfactory Regulations should be arranged with the British officials at Hong Kong before smuggling can be put a stop to and every fraction of revenue be secured to the Public Exchequer.
It has to be observed that Inspector-General Hart has conducted the Customs Administration for over twenty years, and has given satisfaction in every particular, being thoroughly versed in rules for the prevention of irregularities. The memorialists therefore propose, after consideration of the question in conclave, to send Hart to Hong Kong with [Shao Taotai], as an additional [member of the Commission], as he will be able to form a connecting link in the relations between the Chinese and foreign members, and substantial results can be secured thereby.
Should His Majesty deign to approve of this proposal, the memorialists' Yamen will Inspector-General Hart to go accordingly to Hong Kong with [the
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