CO129-249 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [1-5] — Page 93

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

L rules, a position which would inevitably lead to difficulties and complications, and hinder efforts to shake the confidence of the Chinese in British rule; in considering this matter it cannot be too much borne in mind that the Colony of Hongkong and China are contiguous, and that arguments which might be advanced in favour of the appointment of a Chinese Consul do not apply to Hongkong, as they do in Singapore.

Hongkong is so near China that on Chinese maps it is made to appear as Chinese territory and regarded by not a few Chinese as still belonging to the Chinese Empire. Attempts have been made on more than one occasion by Chinese officials to avail themselves of this popular error by endeavouring to interfere with their countrymen in Hongkong by addressing orders to them, as if they were under their jurisdiction. The object of such interference has almost invariably been money and not the welfare of the Chinese. It has not been easy to frustrate such endeavours in the past. It would still be more difficult to do so with a Chinese official in our midst, and much of the time which is profitably spent in looking after Chinese interests, would be taken up in keeping a watch on the Consul and protecting the Chinese against the machinations of the officer, who ought himself to protect them.

19th Jany, 1891.

(Signed) J. A. Stewart Lockhart

Edit History

2026-05-26 18:16:47 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
L rules, a position which would inevitably lead to difficulties and complications, and hinder efforts to shake the confidence of the Chinese in British rule; in considering this matter it cannot be too much borne in mind that the Colony of Hongkong and China are contiguous, and that arguments which might be advanced in favour of the appointment of a Chinese Consul do not apply to Hongkong, as they do in Singapore. Hongkong is so near China that on Chinese maps it is made to appear as Chinese territory and regarded by not a few Chinese as still belonging to the Chinese Empire. Attempts have been made on more than one occasion by Chinese officials to avail themselves of this popular error by endeavouring to interfere with their countrymen in Hongkong by addressing orders to them, as if they were under their jurisdiction. The object of such interference has almost invariably been money and not the welfare of the Chinese. It has not been easy to frustrate such endeavours in the past. It would still be more difficult to do so with a Chinese official in our midst, and much of the time which is profitably spent in looking after Chinese interests, would be taken up in keeping a watch on the Consul and protecting the Chinese against the machinations of the officer, who ought himself to protect them. 19th Jany, 1891. (Signed) J. A. Stewart Lockhart
Baseline (Original)
L rules, a position which would inevitably lead to difficulties and complications, and hina to shake the confidence of the Chuviese in British rule; du considering this matter it cannot be too much borne in mind that a the Colony of Hongkong and China are contiguous, and that arguments which might be advanced in favorer of the apponitment of a Chiniese Consul do not in Singapore apply to Hongkong, which is so near China that on Chinese maps it is made to appear as Chinese serritory and regarded carded by not a few Chniese to the Chuviese as still belonging Empire. Attempts have been made on more than one occasion by Chinese officials to avail themselves of this popular auror by endeavouring to interfere with 91 their countrymen untongkong addrewing and addre as if they C orders to them. were under their Jurisdiction. The object of such interference has almost invare been money est invariably and not the welfare of the Cliniese. It has not been to frustrate such easy endeaverers. in the past. It would still be more difficult to do so with a Chuviese official in our midst, and much of the time which profitably spent in is looking after Chinese interests, would be taken up in keeping a watch on the Convul and protecting the Chiriese against the machinations of the officer, who ought himself to protect theur. 19th Jany, 1891. (Signed) J. A. Stewart Lockhart their
2026-05-26 18:16:47 · Baseline
View content

L

rules, a position which would inevitably lead to difficulties and complications, and hina to shake the confidence of the Chuviese in British rule; du considering this matter it cannot

be too much borne in mind

that a

the

Colony of Hongkong and China are contiguous, and that

arguments which might be advanced in favorer of the apponitment of

a Chiniese Consul

do not

in Singapore

apply to Hongkong, which is so near China that on Chinese maps it is made to appear as Chinese serritory and

regarded

carded by not a few Chniese

to the Chuviese

as still belonging Empire. Attempts have been

made

on

more than one occasion

by Chinese officials to avail themselves of this popular auror by endeavouring to interfere with

91

their countrymen untongkong

addrewing

and addre

as if they

C

orders to them.

were under their

Jurisdiction. The object of such

interference has almost invare

been

money

est invariably and not the welfare

of the Cliniese. It has not been

to frustrate such

easy

endeaverers.

in the past. It would still be more difficult to do so with a Chuviese official in our midst, and much of the time which

profitably spent in

is

looking after Chinese interests, would be taken up in keeping

a watch on the Convul and

protecting the Chiriese against the machinations of the officer, who ought himself to protect

theur.

19th Jany, 1891.

(Signed) J. A. Stewart Lockhart

their

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.