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Chen Bo-xian, an assistant administration commissioner in the Guang-dong Provincial Administration Commission, memorialized: "The various trading goods found in Ling-nan originate from the various yi of Melaka, Siam and Java. These products are but pepper, sapan-wood, elephant tusks, tortoise-shell and such things. They are not things people need every day like cloth, silks, vegetables and grain. Recently, the administration has been permitted to levy proportional taxes [on ships' cargoes] and there has been open trade. This has resulted in thousands of evil persons building huge ships, privately purchasing arms, engaging in evil activities upon the seas, illicitly linking up with the various yi and bringing great harm to the region. This should be stopped at once." The memorial was sent to the Ministry of Rites which proposed: "The regional inspector and other officials should be instructed to strictly prohibit fan ships from coming in violation of the frequency determined for tribute missions. Those ships in violation should be stopped and sent back, and officials should not be permitted to levy proportional taxes on them, as this will give rise to troubles. Any evil persons who continue to collude with the yi should be punished." This was approved.