CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5] — Page 249

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

I have to inform you that both Foreign and Chinese Merchants who tranship Kerosene oil entering Chinese waters will be liable to confiscation.

5. Having regard to your Excellency's instructions, it becomes a question whether I am justified in pressing the Council with the bill now before it, either in its present shape or in a modified form, and I trust your Excellency will be able to obtain satisfactory assurances that no attempt at the compulsory collection of duties will be made in Hongkong, such as is indicated in Mr. Louis Alabaster's dispatch.

6. Your Excellency can easily understand that a body of representative members, such as form part of the Legislative Council, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis might be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Government, matters would be easy; but whilst the constitution of the Council is what it is, time must be given for full and free discussion.

I have, &c.,
W. H. March.

P.S. Since writing the foregoing, I have received from Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. the enclosed extract from a letter from their agents at Foochow, complaining that the native officials up country are endeavouring to levy extra duty on tea that has paid the Likin duty and been properly labelled. The Consul at Foochow has no doubt supplied your Excellency with full information on this matter.

(Initialled) R. A. M.

Page 242

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tags. Spelling corrections and minor adjustments for clarity have been made while preserving the original content and tone. The postscript and initials have been kept, and the page numbering indicator "Page 242" is retained as per the instructions.

Here is the revised version without the extra explanation at the end:

I have to inform you that both Foreign and Chinese Merchants who tranship Kerosene oil entering Chinese waters will be liable to confiscation.

5. Having regard to your Excellency's instructions, it becomes a question whether I am justified in pressing the Council with the bill now before it, either in its present shape or in a modified form, and I trust your Excellency will be able to obtain satisfactory assurances that no attempt at the compulsory collection of duties will be made in Hongkong, such as is indicated in Mr. Louis Alabaster's dispatch.

6. Your Excellency can easily understand that a body of representative members, such as form part of the Legislative Council, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis might be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Government, matters would be easy; but whilst the constitution of the Council is what it is, time must be given for full and free discussion.

I have, &c.,
W. H. March.

P.S. Since writing the foregoing, I have received from Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. the enclosed extract from a letter from their agents at Foochow, complaining that the native officials up country are endeavouring to levy extra duty on tea that has paid the Likin duty and been properly labelled. The Consul at Foochow has no doubt supplied your Excellency with full information on this matter.

(Initialled) R. A. M.

Page 242

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I have to inform you that both Foreign and Chinese Merchants who tranship Kerosene oil entering Chinese waters will be liable to confiscation. 5. Having regard to your Excellency's instructions, it becomes a question whether I am justified in pressing the Council with the bill now before it, either in its present shape or in a modified form, and I trust your Excellency will be able to obtain satisfactory assurances that no attempt at the compulsory collection of duties will be made in Hongkong, such as is indicated in Mr. Louis Alabaster's dispatch. 6. Your Excellency can easily understand that a body of representative members, such as form part of the Legislative Council, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis might be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Government, matters would be easy; but whilst the constitution of the Council is what it is, time must be given for full and free discussion. I have, &c., W. H. March. P.S. Since writing the foregoing, I have received from Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. the enclosed extract from a letter from their agents at Foochow, complaining that the native officials up country are endeavouring to levy extra duty on tea that has paid the Likin duty and been properly labelled. The Consul at Foochow has no doubt supplied your Excellency with full information on this matter. (Initialled) R. A. M. Page 242 (No other changes made as the "Page 242" appears to be a page numbering indicator and is kept as is, following the instructions.) The text has been formatted into paragraphs using HTML tags. Spelling corrections and minor adjustments for clarity have been made while preserving the original content and tone. The postscript and initials have been kept, and the page numbering indicator "Page 242" is retained as per the instructions. Here is the revised version without the extra explanation at the end: I have to inform you that both Foreign and Chinese Merchants who tranship Kerosene oil entering Chinese waters will be liable to confiscation. 5. Having regard to your Excellency's instructions, it becomes a question whether I am justified in pressing the Council with the bill now before it, either in its present shape or in a modified form, and I trust your Excellency will be able to obtain satisfactory assurances that no attempt at the compulsory collection of duties will be made in Hongkong, such as is indicated in Mr. Louis Alabaster's dispatch. 6. Your Excellency can easily understand that a body of representative members, such as form part of the Legislative Council, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis might be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Government, matters would be easy; but whilst the constitution of the Council is what it is, time must be given for full and free discussion. I have, &c., W. H. March. P.S. Since writing the foregoing, I have received from Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. the enclosed extract from a letter from their agents at Foochow, complaining that the native officials up country are endeavouring to levy extra duty on tea that has paid the Likin duty and been properly labelled. The Consul at Foochow has no doubt supplied your Excellency with full information on this matter. (Initialled) R. A. M. Page 242
Baseline (Original)
I of both Foreign and Charine Merchants thras Kerosene oil intering Inrise waters will be liable to tokeiture. 5. Havring regard and to my question nistructions it becomes a whether I am justified in pressing the Council the bill now before it witer in its present shape or an a motified from, and trust your Excellency will be able to obtain satisfactory of compulsory assurances that no collection duties will be attempted in Hongking, such as is indicated in W Louise Alobacter's disfald. 6. Jam Excellency can easily understand that a body of representation members much as form part of the Lyislativ fornsil, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis amight be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Iwerment matters would 242 would be Easy. but whilst the amstitution of the lancil is what it is, time camust be given for frill and free discussion. Shave &. 557 W. H. March. P.S.__ Smice writing the foregoing Shave received from Mess' Jardine Matheun to the enclosed extract from a letter from their at Foochow complaining agento that the native officials up country are undeavouring to levy extra duty Opin that has paid the lekin duty and been properly labeled.. The lansul at Foochow has no doubl supplied your Excellency with full information (Initiated) It. A. M. on this matter. 2
2026-05-25 15:06:56 · Baseline
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I

of both Foreign and Charine Merchants thras Kerosene oil intering Inrise waters will be liable to

tokeiture.

5.

Havring regard

and to

my question

nistructions it becomes a

whether I am

justified in pressing

the Council the bill now

before it

witer in its present shape or an a

motified from, and trust your

Excellency will be able to obtain

satisfactory

of

compulsory

assurances that no

collection

duties will

be attempted in Hongking, such as is indicated in W Louise Alobacter's

disfald.

6.

Jam

Excellency can

easily

understand that a body of representation members much as form part of the Lyislativ fornsil, have to be managed with tact, or a crisis amight be the result. If the passing of laws rested on the will of the Iwerment matters

would

242

would be Easy. but whilst the amstitution of the lancil is what it is, time camust be given for frill

and

free

discussion.

Shave &.

557 W. H. March.

P.S.__ Smice writing the foregoing Shave received from Mess' Jardine Matheun to the enclosed extract from

a letter from their

at Foochow complaining

agento

that the native officials up country are undeavouring to levy extra duty Opin that has paid the lekin duty and been properly labeled.. The lansul at Foochow has no doubl supplied your Excellency with full information

(Initiated) It. A. M.

on this matter.

2

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