CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-189 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [7-9] 11. The following is a return of the trees planted since 1873, when I assumed office: China Firs, 55,849 Bombax, 2,330 Moreton Bay Chestnuts, 1,050 Banyans and India-rubbers, 3,039 Casuarinas, 1,087 Australian Gums, 500 Miscellaneous, 1,200 Bamboos, 11,400 Total, 76,455 Average number planted per annum, 15,290 12. However imposing this array of figures may look upon paper, the result is by no means telling on the ground itself, and it is somewhat disheartening to think that after all, the entire seventy-six thousand trees have only sufficed to dot here and there a few streets and suburban roads, a ravi... incipient forest to be seen on the mountain slopes overlooking the harbour, and which, from the contr...uit, and which I think the owner would part with not very unwillingly, as he does not appear ever to have turned them to much account. I assess their value at $762.75, and would advise their being re-entered by the Crown. I am fain to recommend this course only after a fruitless search for suitable nursery sites elsewhere. 21. In addition to the outlay in its acquisition, the cost of draining and preparing the nursery, and purchasing seed and materials, will be $1,299, making a total prime cost of $2,001.75, while the succeeding yearly expenditure in labour and material will not exceed $1,610.00, a figure sufficiently moderate. I trust, to recommend the project to His Excellency the Governor's favourable consideration. 22. If not inconsistent with future Gaol Regulations, it might be possible to reduce the estimate by employing long-sentenced convicts, or those whose term of punishment has already passed from the punitive to the reformatory stage, to till the nursery, dig holes on the hill side and to carry trees, in which case item 4 and half of 6 in the appended Estimate might be struck out and the prime cost brought down to $650 as shown in the Estimate, reduced to $1,436.75, while at the same time the yearly outlay might, by means of the same assistance, be reduced. 23. During the first two years, the places to be planted out would be sufficiently close in to town to allow of convict labour, if available, being employed with safety, and I think it will be time enough continuing the work with hired coolies. Independently, however, of the class of labour to be used, it is my duty to consider the advisability of planting one or two of Victoria Peak, and to cover but sparsely the small, isolated and insignificant patches when the plantation sites shall have receded to greater distances to consider the advisability of their greenness and luxuriance, serve, like oases in the desert, only to remind one the more painfully of the glaring bareness of the surrounding hills. 13. I have made with deep interest an examination of the waste lands of this Colony capable of being wooded, and which are unfit for any better use. Freely excluding paddy-fields, meadows, and gardens of Kowloon, I would propose to make this tree enter largely into the varieties to be planted in the future. 24. With reference to His Excellency the Governor's recommendation that the cocoanut palm should be more widely cultivated in this Colony where it thrives so well especially in the grounds cultivable for food or other productive purposes, as also foreshores, tidal swamps and places too rocky, or otherwise unable to support vegetable life, I find the sites available for tree planting comprise about ten thousand acres. 14. Looking to the exposure of most of these sites to the force of the North-East monsoon, especially to the action of typhoons, it would be necessary to plant the young trees somewhat thick, from five to seven cents a piece, and we might begin by purchasing and planting five thousand Cocoanuts sprouted in the husk for the purposes of seed may be had in large quantities from Manila so as to enable them to shelter one another; not less than four should be planted to every hundred square feet, or in other words 1,740 trees to the acre. 15. But, although feasible, it may perhaps be too much to aspire to ten thousand acres of woodland, and if our planting operations were continued at their present tortoise pace, viz., at the rate of 15,000 trees a year, it would take us eleven hundred years to complete the job. 25. It is the opinion of competent professional persons, that by a judicious selection of hardy classes of plants to suit the peculiar conditions of different localities in regard to soil, moisture, shelter from prevailing winds, temperature, and altitude above sea level, there will be no difficulty in forming forests of many varieties of trees. 16. Before proceeding further, I should explain that one of the reasons why planting has been hitherto conducted upon such a sorry scale in this Colony, is to be found in the smallness of the amount of Government tree nursery at Sokonpò, which will not hold more than fifteen thousand seedlings, while in respect of climate, its capabilities may be best judged by the fact that firs and cocoanut palms, the typical trees of countries so widely differing as Norway and the Sahara, are here to be seen flourishing side by side. 26. It is unnecessary to descant upon the benefits which the realization of this project of increased tree-planting promises to the Colony. 17. A second though subordinate reason is the inadequacy of the present staff. If our operations are increased, it will not however be necessary to add very largely to the number of permanent foresters; journeymen coolies can be taken on and dismissed as occasion may require; the cost of these and six additional Foresters is given in the Estimate appended. 18. I had at one time feared that the difficulty of getting enough seeds might prevent our sowing as many as half a million each season, but the result of enquiries on this point is satisfactory. Taking it at a prudently low estimate, I find the island and neighbouring islets will yield enough fir cones alone for that number of plants, while my correspondents at Amoy and Foochow advise me that fir cones are also procurable in those places. 19. To turn out as many as five hundred thousand trees every spring, a nursery containing 12 to 15 acres would be required, also the annual services of sixty coolies for one month to collect seeds, as well as sixty coolies for two months to dig holes, to wrap and bind the plants with straw, and to convey them from the nursery to their destinations. 20. Having as far back as the administration of Sir HERCULES ROBINSON disposed of all farm lands within easy distance of the City, the Government unfortunately does not now possess any ground available for a nursery, and for this purpose, it would be necessary to have recourse to a Government resumption of private land. There are some sufficiently large paddy fields at Sokonpo, the property of Mr. GEORGE DUDDELL, and registered in the Land Office as Farm Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 5, which would suit us. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, J. M. PRICE, Surveyor General. Sir, ESTIMATE OF COST OF PLANTING HALF-A-MILLION OF TREES PER ANNUM. The Honourable Cecil C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary. Estimate of Prime Cost. 1. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 1, $209.40 2. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 2, $196.20 3. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 5, $306.15 4. Draining and preparing ground, $500.00 5. Fencing waste ground at Bowrington, $150.00 6. Manuring and preparing same, $250.00 7. Purchase of 5,000 Cocoanuts, at 7 cents, $350.00 8. Contingencies, $100.00 Total Prime Cost, $2,061.75 brought down to one-half, reducing the total to $1,436.75 Note.-If convict labour be used, item 4 may be omitted, and item 6 brought down to one-half. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-191 - Public Offices & Others - 1880 Moreton Bay Chestnuts, 1 Bombax, 11. The following is a return of the trees planted since 1873, when I assumed office:- Chum Firs, 55,849 Banyans and India-rubbers, 2,880 Casuarinas, 1,050 Australian Gums, 3,039 Bamboos, 1,087 Miscellaneous, 500 1,200 11,400 Total,.. 76,455 15,290 Average number planted per annum, 12. However imposing this array of figures may look upon paper, the result is by no means so telling on the ground itself, and it is somewhat disheartening to think that after all, the entire seventy-six thousand trees have only sufficed to dot here and there a few streets and suburban roads, a ravine or two of Victoria Peak, and to cover but sparsely the small, isolated and insignificant patches of incipient forest to be seen on the mountain slopes overlooking the harbour, and which, from the contrast of their greenness and luxuriance, serve, like oases in the desert, only to remind one the more painfully of the glaring bareness of the surrounding hills. 13. I have made with deep interest an examination of the waste lands of this Colony capable of being wooded, and which are unfit for any better use. Freely excluding paddy-fields, meadows, and all ground cultivable for food or other productive purposes, as also foreshores, tidal swamps and all places too rocky, or otherwise unable to support vegetable life, I find the sites available for trees comprise about ten thousand acres. 14. Looking to the exposure of most of these sites to the force of the North-East monsoon, and especially to the action of typhoons, it would be necessary to plant the young trees somewhat thickly, so as to enable them to shelter one another; not less than four should be planted to every hundred square feet, or in other words 1,740 trees to the acre. For ten thousand acres then, we would require over seventeen million trees, and if our planting operations were continued at their present tortoise speed, viz., at the rate of 15,000 trees a year, it would take us eleven hundred years to complete the job. 15. But, although feasible, it may perhaps be too much to aspire to ten thousand acres of woods. I will, therefore, reduce my figures at once to five thousand acres, an area one third of which may be planted during the term of His Excellency's Administration without entailing any very serious outlay or throwing upon the Department over which I have the honour to preside any additional work which it may not grapple with if assisted, in the proper seasons, by hired or convict labour. 16. Before proceeding further, I should explain that one of the reasons why planting has been hitherto conducted upon such a sorry scale in this Colony, is to be found in the smallness of the Government tree nursery at Sokonpò, which will not hold more than fifteen thousand seedlings, and which is, therefore, unable to accommodate one year's sowing and the preceding year's trees at one and the same time. This will be the more readily understood, when it is borne in mind that the process of transplanting, partly dependent on the weather, extends sometimes over two months, and that owing to the young plants being still in their beds often as late as March, there is no ground available in which to sow the seeds that should be already germinating in February. For this reason, for instance, no seeds were gathered or sown by Mr. FORD, the gardener, in 1876, and there will, therefore, be no trees to plant next spring, a circumstance sufficiently mortifying. 17. A second though subordinate reason is the inadequacy of the present staff. If our operations are increased, it will not however be necessary to add very largely to the number of permanent foresters; journeymen coolies can be taken on and dismissed as occasion may require; the cost of these and six additional Foresters is given in the Estimate appended. 18. I had at one time feared that the difficulty of getting enough seeds might prevent our sowing as many as half a million each season, but the result of enquiries on this point is satisfactory. Taken at a prudently low estimate, I find the island and neighbouring islets will yield enough fir cones alone for that number of plants, while my correspondents at Amoy and Foochow advise me that fir cones are also procurable in those places. From Canton, I have not yet sufficiently reliable data to say whether seeds are to be easily had there, but I see no reason why they should not be. At all events, all doubt as to the sufficiency of seeds is now dispelled. 19. To turn out as many as five hundred thousand trees every spring, a nursery containing 14 or 15 acres would be required, also the annual services of sixty coolies for one month to collect seeds, as well as sixty coolies for two months to dig holes, to wrap and bind the plants with straw, and to convey them from the nursery to their destinations. In addition to this, the services of six permanent Foresters to act under the Head Forester as already stated would be necessary to keep the nursery in order. 20. Having as far back as the administration of Sir HERCULES ROBINSON disposed of all farm lands within easy distance of the City, the Government unfortunately does not now possess any ground available for a nursery, and for this purpose, it would be necessary to have recourse to a Government resumption of private land. There are some sufficiently large paddy fields at Sokonpoò, the property of Mr. GEORGE DUDDELL, and registered in the Land Office as Farm Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 5, which would suit, and which I think the owner would part with not very unwillingly, as he does not appear ever to have turned them to much account. I assess their value at $762.75, and would advise their being re-entered by the Crown. I am fain to recommend this course only after a fruitless search for suitable nursery sites elsewhere. 21. In addition to the outlay in its acquisition, the cost of draining and preparing the nursery, and purchasing seed and materials, will be $1,299, making a total prime cost of $2,061.75, while the succeeding yearly expenditure in labour and material will not exceed $1,610.00, a figure sufficiently moderate. I trust to recommend the project to His Excellency the Governor's favourable consideration. 22. If not inconsistent with future Gaol Regulations, it might be possible to reduce the estimate by employing long-sentenced convicts, or those whose term of punishment has already passed from the acute to the reformatory stage, to till the nursery, dig holes on the hill side and to carry trees, in which case item 4 and half of 6 in the appended Estimate might be struck out and the prime cost reduced to $1,436.75, while at the same time the yearly outlay might, by means of the same assistance, be brought down to $650 as shown in the Estimate. 561 23. During the first two years, the places to be planted out would be sufficiently close in to town to allow of convict labour, if available, being employed with safety, and I think it will be time enough when the plantation sites shall have receded to greater distances to consider the advisability of continuing the work with hired coolies. Independently, however, of the class of labour to be used, it is of great importance that the tree nursery itself should be in some district immediately suburban so as to ensure its efficient supervision by myself and my officers. 24. With reference to His Excellency the Governor's recommendation that the cocoanut palm should be more widely cultivated in this Colony where it thrives so well especially in the grounds and gardens of Kowloon, I would propose to make this tree enter largely into the varieties to be planted in the future. None better can be selected for the sea shores or other salt low lying places of the Island and Kowloon, and its powers of resistance to typhoons is no small qualification in its favour. Cocoanuts sprouted in the husk for the purposes of seed may be had in large quantities from Manila at from five to seven cents a piece, and we might begin by purchasing and planting five thousand during the forthcoming year. The first palm-groves might be appropriately planted in the sandy open grounds near the Bowrington Canal and in the Bowrington Compound. That neighbourhood is the Hyde Park of Hongkong and has been for the last quarter of a century the only evening health drive which the European Community has boasted of, owing however to the salt and sandy nature of the soil it has defied whatever attempts may have been made to cultivate it, and it remains to this day unattractive and shadeless. 25. It is the opinion of competent professional persons, that by a judicious selection of hardy classes of plants to suit the peculiar conditions of different localities in regard to soil, moisture, shelter from prevailing winds, temperature, and altitude above sea level, there will be no difficulty in forming forests of many varieties of trees. Of the productiveness of the ground under a moderate amount of fertilization and tillage, we already possess ample proof in the vegetation we have reared, while in respect of climate, its capabilities may be best judged by the fact that firs and cocoanut palms, the typical trees of countries so widely differing as Norway and the Sahara, are here to be seen flourishing side by side. 26. It is unnecessary to descant upon the benefits which the realization of this project of increased tree-planting promises to Hongkong. It is universally acknowledged that the improved health of the Colony is in a great measure due to the little that has already been done in clothing the granite with arborescent vegetation, and His Excellency will not have failed, in the short time he has been among us, to notice how general and fervent is the hope that the Government will not slacken its exertions in the good work. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, The Honourable CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary. Sir, J. M. PRICE, Surveyor General. ESTIMATE OF COST OF PLANTING HALF-A-MILLION OF TREES PER ANNUM. 1. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 1, 209.40 2. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 2, 196.20 3. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 5, 306.15 4. Draining and preparing ground, 500.00 5. Fencing waste ground at Bowrington, 150.00 6. Manuring and preparing same, 250.00 7. Purchase of 5,000 Cocoanuts, at 7 cents, 350.00 Total Prime Cost, $2,061.75 8. Contingencies, 100.00 Note.--If convict labour be used, item 4 may be omitted, and item 6 brought down to one-half, reducing the total to $1,436.75 ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 # AT THE COURT AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, The 7th day of March, 1913. ## PRESENT, **C.O.** 8621 **REC** `RF 13 MARE` **THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY** **LORD PRESIDENT** **LORD PRIVY SEAL** **LORD CHAMBERLAIN** **LORD PARKER** **MASTER OF THE HORSE** **SIR CECIL SPRING-RICE** WHEREAS by Section 17 of the Medical Act, 1886, it is provided (amongst other things) that His Majesty may from time to time by Order in Council declare that the second part of the said Act shall be deemed, on and after a day to be named in such Order, to apply to any British possession, which in the opinion of His Majesty affords to the registered medical practitioners of the United Kingdom such privileges of practising in the said British possession as to His Majesty may seem just, and that from and after the day named in such Order in Council such British possession shall be deemed to be a British possession to which the said Act applies, within the meaning of the second part thereof, and that until such Order in Council has been made in respect of any British possession, the said second part of the said Act shall not be deemed to apply to any such possession. And whereas the Colony of Hong Kong is a British possession within the meaning of the said Act, and in the opinion of His Majesty affords to the registered medical practitioners of the United Kingdom such privileges of practising in the said Colony as to His Majesty seem just: NOW, THEREFORE, His Majesty doth hereby, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, order and declare that on and after the First day of April, 1913, the second part of the Medical Act, 1886, shall be deemed to apply to the Colony of Hong Kong. **ALMERIC FITZROY.** ☐ 0.0.1522. Printed by EYRE and SPOTTISWOODE, Ltd., Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty. 1913. For His Majesty's Stationery Office. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 COMMERCIAL. *•. 323 Duplicate C.O BRITISH EMBASSY, 35344 317 43557 DUPLICATE, 1.X., SEP 24 1913 RECEIVED Rectd 13 OCT 13 September 15, 1913. As you are aware from previous reports made by this Embassy, the policy of the United States Government during recent years has been to exclude East Indian labourers from the country wherever possible. The immigration authorities have, until lately, been in considerable doubt how to deal with East Indians arriving on the Pacific Coast from the Philippine Islands, after having secured admission to these Islands. They have desired to exclude them on general grounds and also on the specific ground that the requirement in the Philippines of a bond of (say) $250, which may be sufficient there as a guarantee against the immigrant becoming a public charge, is not sufficient in the United States where a bond of at least $500 is usually exacted. Recently the Department of Labor has, I believe, decided this question definitely, and has issued instructions that in future East Indians coming from the Philippines shall be subject to the same requirements as those coming from a foreign country. It is probably doubtful whether this action is legal, but in view of the settled policy of the United States and the analogous policy of Canada, it would appear inadvisable to make any representations with regard to it. The Right Honourable I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, (894) Cecil Spring Rice Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G.   Page 323     Page 323 ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 COPY. E. 331 C.O. 40128 211 British Consulate-General, Boston, Mass., 10 Aug., 1915. 117792 $50,000 AUG 23 1915 With reference to your Excellency's telegram of August 7th, 1915, respecting the standing and trustworthiness of the Firm of Hartuann and Company, I have the honour to state that there is no concern answering precisely to that description and I conclude that it is Hartmann Brothers, Incorporated, of 10 High Street, Boston, to which your Excellency refers. According to a prominent firm of bankers in Boston this concern does not buy for its own account but acts only for other houses, being in fact brokers in foreign and domestic hides and skins. The firm finances the purchase until the arrival of the commodity in the United States. The bankers are of opinion that any undertaking furnished should be given by the firm or firms for whom Hartmann Brothers are acting rather than or as well as by the brokers. The bankers state that the firm is of good financial standing operating on a paid-in capital of Fifty thousand dollars. The concern's entire investment is in liquid form and they carry no merchandise item in their financial statements owing to the fact that they are conducting their business entirely on a brokerage basis. His Excellency, The Right Hon. Sir Cecil A. Spring-Rice, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., etc., etc., etc., Washington. The ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 BRITISH CONSULATE-GENERAL, BOSTON. August 12th, 1915. 273 TO HIS EXCELLENCY Sir, With reference to Your Excellency's telegram of August 7th, 1915, respecting the standing and trustworthiness of the firm of Hartmann and Company, I have the honour to state that there is no concern answering precisely to that description and I conclude that it is Hartmann Crothers, Incorporated, of 10 High Street, Boston, to which Your Excellency refers. According to a prominent firm of bankers in Boston this concern does not buy for its own account but acts only for other houses, being in fact brokers in foreign and domestic hides and skins. The firm finances the purchase until the arrival of the commodity in the United States. The bankers are of opinion that any undertaking furnished should be given by the firm or firms for whom Hartmann Brothers are acting rather than by the brokers. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency, The Right Honourable Sir Cecil A. Spring-Rice, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., etc., etc., etc., Washington. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 Confidential. 10.586. 163851) British Embassy, Washington, October 6th 1915. Sir:- With reference to your telegram No. 1382 of September 21st I have the honour to enclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at San Francisco to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio relative to the revolutionary Bengalese H.L.Gupta. I have &c., (Signed) Cecil Spring Rice. The Right Honourable Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G.,M.P., ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 Page 198 British Embassy, Washington, October 6th 1915. Confidential. 565 With reference to your telegram No. 1392 of September 21st I have the honour to enclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at San Francisco to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio relative to the revolutionary Bengalese H.L.Gupta. I have &c. (signed) Cecil Spring Rice. The Right Honourable Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G., M.P. Page 196 (840) (To be continued or related content, but the original text is not provided) No additional content is generated for the missing or unrelated parts as per the instructions. The provided text is proofread and formatted according to the given rules. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915 No 721. A No. 644 Bir: BRITISH EMBASSY, WASHINGTON, 253 October 27, 1916. 58510 REC! FREE" With reference to your telegram No. 1536 of the 13th instant, respecting the reported intention of a Norwegian firm, Messrs. Olsen, to establish a service between Seattle and Japan, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from the Acting British Consul at Portland, Oregon, stating that he has been unable to obtain any confirmation of the report. The information given by Mr. Trant is confirmed by His Majesty's Consul-General at San Francisco, who states that, while the Olsen Company's vessels are at present running between that port and Scandinavia, no information is obtainable locally as to any proposed change of route. The prospects of the establishment of a Dutch steamship service between San Francisco and Java via Japan were mentioned in my telegram No. 2222 of the 22nd instant. Right Honourable I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, (sd.) CECIL SPRING-RICE, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., etc. 7. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915 Consul-General A.Carnegie Ross. 255 SAN FRANCISCO. 198510 12th November 1915 0 116. Received By Post. I have the honour to forward herewith for Your Excellency's information a cutting from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Journal, respecting a new line of steamships between Java and San Francisco, to be known as the "Java-Pacific Line". I have etc. (Signed) A. Carnegie Ross. His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General. The Right Honourable, Sir Cecil A. Spring Rice, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G. etc. etc. etc. Page 255 ... Page 255 ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915 BRITISH CONSULATE, PORTLAND, OREGON, Oct. 19th, 19451 585/10 256 RECE With reference to your telegram of October 14th regarding the reportedly proposed formation of a Norwegian Steamship line between Seattle and Japan and my reply of even date stating that the report could not be confirmed, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that Captain Olsen was out on this coast last spring with the idea of establishing a line of oil-propelled vessels between Scandinavian ports and this Pacific Coast via the Panama Canal. Captain Olsen was in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle looking over the prospects for this line, but it seemed that owing to his finding little prospects of return cargoes from the last two named ports he decided to leave Portland and Seattle out of his present schedule and make the terminal port San Francisco. Captain Olsen appointed G. W. Lolear & Co. of San Francisco his agents for the Pacific Coast, and I understand that steamers are now plying at regular intervals between Norway and San Francisco pending the completion of motor vessels that are to be used on this run. I telegraphed Mr. Consul General Ross at San Francisco to ask whether he could find out through the agents whether there was any truth in the report of the proposed line to Japan, but he could give me no information on the subject. Mr. Consul Kelly at Seattle states that he can find no evidence as to the truth of this report, although it is asserted that one of Captain Olsen's steamers is expected. The Right Hon. Sir Cecil A. Spring-Rice, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, British Embassy, Washington, D.C. Page ... ... ... ... ... ... ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 ## No. 8 Causular 1 **Sir:** **BRITISH EMBASSY, WASHINGTON,** **RES** 78 Gamery 25, 1916. 7317 I have the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a note which I have received from the United States Government relative to the case of the British subject James Ryan, alias James Poulton, who, recently deported on the ground of having committed a felony, was refused landing at Hong Kong and was returned by the authorities there to San Francisco on the same steamer which had brought him to Hong Kong. The United States authorities request that the authorities at Hong Kong may be authorised to permit the landing of Ryan at that place in as much as he is a British subject and was on the way to Calcutta where he was born forty-eight years ago. I shall be grateful if you will inform me what reply you would wish me to return to the Department of State. I have the honour to be with the highest respect, **Sir,** your most obedient, humble servant, (SD) Cecil Spring-Rice. The Right Honourable Sir E. Grey, Bart., K.G., M.P., etc., etc., etc. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 ## 7317 REC'd 16 FEB 16 I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a letter, with enclosure, from the Department of Labor, relative to the case of the British subject James Ryan, saloon, who, recently deported by that Department to Jaluitte on the ground of having committed a felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude prior to entry, was refused landing at Jaluitte, and was returned by the authorities there to San Francisco on the steamer HONGKONG MARU, which had brought him to Hongkong. It will be observed that the Department of Labor requests that the matter be taken up with you to the end that the authorities at Hongkong may be authorized to permit the landing of Ryan at that place, for passage to Jaluitte. That the matter be expedited, as the alien is now in detention at San Francisco. The Department will be grateful if you will bring the request of the Department of Labor to the attention of the proper authorities. I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration His Excellency Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, Ambassador of Great Britain. (For) Chargé d'Affaires. ================================================================================ CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 | CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 238 This course, as pointed out in my despatch of February 16th, would facilitate the exercise of test checks by His Majesty's Consuls General. In cases where embarcad goods are forwarded otherwise than to the order of a British Consular officer, it is desirable that particulars of the shipments should be received at the Embassy by telegraph in order that the Consuls may have a better opportunity of watching the disposal of the goods on arrival. I have the honour to be with the highest respect Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, **(SD) Cecil Spring Rice** Page 240 Page 241 ================================================================================