298
one
there seems to be no right on the part of Govern- ment to claim the assist
ance
of another Government in preventing the export of such articles. The suggest- :ion 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 Bri-
tish
tish jurisdiction.
8. Any legislation that this Government may rea- sonably
be called upon to enact to prevent the free- dom of the port being abused to the prejudice of the neighbouring empire will be introduced, but, I submit, to give effect to the discarded proposals of
Sir Robert Hart would be
to hand over this free port
to the domination of Chinese
Customs
Page 300Page 301