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submitted to the Ministry.
"In my opinion there is no such firm as the Jung Fu Yuan
at No. 4 Jung Lung Street. There is no such name on the door, and the Bureau had no means of telling whether Low was a
British subject or not.
"When he was arrested he was of course dealt with as an
offender caught in the act.
"Your letter requesting that he might be released arrived
late at night and while his examination was taking place. As soon as he expressed his willingness to pay the fine and had given a guarantee, he was released as there was no necessity
to send him to your office.
"As regards the British Consul's statement that the
offender is a British subject and his request that the fine
should be cancelled, the Bureau begs to point out that the
fine has already been paid and it cannot be refunded until
the Ministry's decision on the point has been communicated
to the Bureau.
"With regard to the statement that Mr. Tung endeavoured
to extort 200 from the offender, careful examination of Mr.
Tung shows that no such endeavour was made, and the statement
is a mere invention on the offender's part. However, as a
decision has already been given in the case, it is not
proposed to take further steps against him on this account.
"The above account of the proceedings is now submitted
to you for transmittion (to the British Consul)".
With reference to the above, I have the honour to
state that since Low Peng Kiah admitted, in the Opium
Suppression Bureau, that he was a native of Chao An Hsien
and paid the fine imposed on him, I cannot discuss your
request that the draft on the Chi Cheng Cash Shop should
be cancelled.
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