Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 195

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22. In pursuance of the Chefoo arrangement, and as one of the Commissioners, Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON drew up 7 propositions as a basis of conference on the Blockade question (Appendix A.) They were discussed at a meeting of Executive Council attended by the un-official members of the Legislative Council and myself, but not approved of, as the new Station was considered an additional burden without any corresponding advantage to the trade.

23. Counter propositions were drawn up by the Government as a basis of conference, and, as appears from a despatch of Governor HENNESSY to the Secretary of State, that basis was sent to Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON. A good deal of discussion subsequently took place as to whether the un-official members of Council, Mr. Lowcock and Mr. KESWICK, assented to the Hongkong basis. At all events the illness of Sir BROOKE in January prevented any meeting of the Commission from taking place, and Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY wrote to that effect on the 28th February, 1877, forwarding at the same time to the Secretary of State the two proposals. The Hongkong Government proposal is annexed (Appendix B.)

History of the Blockade question under Governor Hennessy, from 1877.

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24. Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY arrived in April, 1877, as Governor of the Colony, and an opportunity was soon afforded to him of dealing with a case of smuggling which occurred in the time of Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY, but the discussion of which with the Canton Government had not been completed. It was as follows:-

25. In 1876 a Junk with Opium had been fired upon in British waters by a Revenue Cruiser, dragged from the coast at Cape d'Aguilar, and towed to the Fat-tau Mún Station. The Junk had a large quantity of Opium on board. Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY demanded the restoration of the Junk and Cargo, an apology from the Viceroy, and dismissal of the Officer in charge of the Cruiser who had thus invaded our waters and territory. It was June or July, 1877, before the Opium was restored and compensation allowed for the forfeited and sold Junk. Governor HENNESSY resolved not to give up the Opium and Cargo to the owners, because the Junk had left the anchorage without a proper clearance, and from that time forward, with the view of assisting the Chinese in the collection of their duties, His Excellency gave instructions that, in case of complaints by Hongkong Junks of seizures either in the waters of the Colony or outside, inquiry should in the first instance be made whether the Junk had properly cleared as required by the Harbour and Coasts Ordinance 6 of 1866-an Ordinance which was established for putting down piracy, rampant at that time, the Harbour itself being quite a rendezvous for piratical craft. (See Sir R. G. MACDONNELL'S despatch forwarding the Ordinance to Secretary of State, and the Attorney General's (Mr. PAUNCEFOTE) opinion on the Ordinance, shewing that 3 Foreign vessels had been followed from the Harbour and attacked outside, No. 111 of 28th August, 1866.) If the Junk had been guilty of any infringement for not reporting or obtaining a clearance, the Master was to be charged, and forfeiture of Junk and Cargo took place. This, of course, was a strong measure, and the Governor soon reported to the Colonial Office that complaints had ceased. The Secretary of State sanctioned the employment of this Ordinance for the suppression of smuggling, although the pains and penalties of forfeiture were only intended to attach to breaches of Harbour Regulations where piracy was in contemplation. The undersigned ventures with very great respect to think that if the Colonial Office had been made fully

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