Knox then gave a speech in which he affirmed the British support for administrative reforms, announced transforming custom revenues to Shaikh Hamad and told Al Dawasir that they may migrate to Saudi Arabia as they have frequently threatened, but that they should not be surprised if [their] lands and houses are confiscated. He then addressed the Al Khalifa and the Shia. To the former he said they must not expect that [they] have the right to live on the rest of community .. by preying on the poor and helpless. To the latter he said [m]uch of the agitation of recent years has been fictitious and that they must not expect equality at a bound and Sunni privileges cannot be swept away at once, if at all. He also assured Sunnis that reforms would lead to ultimate benefit of [their] community. Al Khawalid promised to reduce taxes on Sitra residents, but raised them again as soon as Knox left.