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6. There is no idea of relaxing the present enforcement of Colonial laws. The question, however, of regarding its own officers must be left entirely to the discretion of this Government which cannot be expected to arrange for an equal division of the proceeds of sale of confiscated goods between itself and the Chinese Government.
7. Arms and munitions of war are now by local legislation forbidden to be shipped. As regards other contraband goods, e.g., salt, there seems to be no right on the part of one Government to claim the assistance of another Government in preventing the export of such articles. The suggestion that all permits should be issued or countersigned by the Chinese Customs is not feasible in view of the previous declaration against tolerating any officer of the Chinese Customs exercising his functions within British jurisdiction.
8. Any legislation that this Government may reasonably be called upon to enact to prevent the freedom of the port being abused to the prejudice of the neighbouring Empire will be introduced, but I submit that to give effect to the discarded proposals of Sir ROBERT HART would be to hand over this free port to the domination of the Chinese Customs.
With reference to the quid pro quo of an easier working of the West River trade and of that likely to grow up under the new inland steam navigation rules which is suggested in the concluding portion of the Inspector General's letter, it is not necessary to say more than that the easy working of those regulations is already the duty of China and cannot be accepted as a reason for granting to China abnormal jurisdiction within this Colony.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. BLACK, Major-General,
Administering the Government.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
St..
&c.,
&c.
(H. B. M. Minister, Peking, to Officer Administering the Government.)
PEKING, 11th July, 1898.
SIR,I have the honour to enclose, for Your Excellency's consideration, copy of a letter addressed by Sir ROBERT HART, in which he sets forth the arrangements necessary, in his opinion, for the protection of Chinese revenue under the new circumstances created by the recent extension of Hongkong territory.
A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
His Excellency
Major-General WILSONE BLACK, C.B.,
Administering the Government,
HONGKONG.
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.