CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915 — Page 323

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REGE 30 APR 15

rnment House,

Hong Kong, 25th March 1915.

Sir,

With reference to your Excellency's letter No.4444/152 P.M. of the 23rd March, I have the honour to inform you that

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I had not overlook, the instructions from the Secretary of State referred to by Your Excellency but I considered, as I have explained verbally, that I should be justified in not applying them strictly to the case of an official on the Staff of the Chinese Maritime Customs whose transfer from Canton to Wuhu could not be made without much trouble and loss of time otherwise than through this Colony.

His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton has been informed that the exception in Mr. Arlt's case is made as an act of courtesy towards the Chinese Government and must be regarded as a special case not necessarily to be drawn into a precedent.

2. I shall inform Your Excellency in due course of the name of the steamer by which Mr. Arlt will leave and the date of his arrival here to join her.

3. The matter will of course be reported to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Excellency,

jor-General F.H.Kelly, C.B.

Hiy

I have etc., etc,.

(Sd) F.H.May, Governor, etc

Commanding the Troops in China,

Hong Kong,