Downing Street, 4th June, 1892.
Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No, 107 of the 25th March enclosing two memorials fron the Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce respecting " refusal cly Vice-Admiral Sir F. Richards to send one of Her Majesty's ships to look for a missing steamer.
T referred these papers for the consideration of the Adniralty, and I have now to acquaint you that in the opinion of Her sty's Government the Chamber of Commerce have no valid ground of complaint against the Vice-Admiral.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces on the station must be left to judge of what is practicable on any occasion on which the assistance of Her Majesty's ships is sought for, and a cxrefol perusal: of the papers submitted by you does'not lead Her Majesty's Government to' think that the Vice-Admiral's discretion was" not: soundly. exercised in the ease in question:
In future any representations which the Chamber of Commerce may wish tomake in regard tothe action of the Admiral should be addressed in the first instance to the Governor of the colony in accordance with ordinary usage.
Thave, &e., (Signed) Kxursrorp. Governor Sir W, Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.