Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 216

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.

(Copy).

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

7th January, 1884.

I am directed by the Earl of DERBY to enclose, for the consideration of Earl GRANVILLE, a copy of a Report which has been issued by a Commission appointed by the Hongkong Government to enquire into the alleged smuggling from Hong- kong into China.

2. I am to request you to call Lord GRANVILLE's attention to the first of the two suggestions made by the Commissioners on page XIV of their Report, and to request that, if his Lordship sees no objection, Sir HARRY PARKES may be instructed to urge the Pekin Government to comply with the wishes of the Hongkong Government, and to verify the status of such of the cruisers as belong to the Imperial Navy or Officials. Lord DERBY in the meantime proposes to instruct Sir GEORGE Bowen to communicate with the Consul at Canton, with the view of verifying such vessels as are under the Provincial Government or Officials.

+

JOHN BRAMSTON.

I

am, &c.,

(Signed)

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE

FOREIGN OFFICE.

(Copy).

Foreign Office to Colonial Office.

FOREIGN OFFICE,

January 18th, 1884.

SIR,

I am directed by Earl GRANVILLE to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, enclosing a copy of a Report which has been issued by a Commission appointed by the Hongkong Government to enquire into the alleged smuggling from the Colony into China, and I am to state to you, for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, that, in accordance with His Lordship's suggestion, the Report in question has been transmitted to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin, who has been instructed to urge the Chinese Government to comply with the wishes of the Hongkong Government in the sense of the Report.

I am to add that Lord GRANVILLE concurs in Lord DERBY's proposal to instruct Sir GEORGE BOWEN to communicate with the Acting Consul at Canton with the view of verifying such vessels as are under the Provincial Government or Officials.

Sir HARRY PARKES has been informed of this proposed instruction.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE

COLONIAL

I am, &c.,

(Signed)

PHILIP W. CURRIE.