§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact that Her Majesty's mails are not landed at Formosa owing to the French blockade; that the steamer with the mails arrived, but the captain refused to land the mails without the prior consent of the French authorities; that, as no French man of war was in sight, H.M.S. Champion went 150 miles to receive the answer that the mails were contraband of war; whether the English postmaster at Hong Kong announces that the mails for the French Fleet will be delivered regularly; whether French ships are allowed to coal and refit at Hong Kong in order to be able to chase English vessels and 1157 steamers; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to remedy this violation of the rights of neutrals, and make representations to the Trench Government on the subject?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIt appears that, on two occasions recently, the mails were not allowed by the French to be landed at Taiwan Foo, on the ground that information might be conveyed to the enemy by that means from the mainland. Letters for the Consuls were, however, allowed to be landed. I am not aware that the English Postmaster at Hong Kong has made the announcement referred to. French ships are allowed to coal and refit at Hong Kong so far as the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act permits, as the Papers which will be in the hands of hon. Members to-morrow show. I may point out that Questions relating to Hong Kong should be asked of the Colonial Office.