British forces receiving Commissioner Keying at Canton's British Factories for conference with Sir J. F. Davies

Sir J. F. Davis, Governor of Hong Kong 1844-1848, arrived in force in Canton on 3 April 1847, having yet again reduced the forts at Humen with the forces at his disposal (HMS Espiegle and HMS Pluto). His aim was to force Governor-General Qiying (1787-1858) to resolve western complaints about enforcement of the terms of the Treaty of Nanjing. The meeting was held in the English Factory and, as this picture shows, the Governor-General was to be both welcomed and intimidated.