Sir,—Referring. to the letter- from this Office of the 27th of February last, Iam directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform you that, having considered.: the Draft Hongkong Ordinance for the regulation of Chinese passenger ships on eyages of not more than seven days' dura-which was duly forwarded by. the Governor of Hongkong and having consulted the Marquis of Salisbury.and the Board of Trade on the subject, he has given instructions that the Bill shall be withdrawn, thereby concurring in the advice which was tendered to him by the Hongkong Government.
Mr. Chamberlain is confident that the China "Association will use their endeavour to discountenance such overerowding on British-owned vessels as gave rise to the present correspondence.
(Signed) Eowanp Farnererp.
R. S. Gundry, Bsq., Hon, Secretary China Association,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.