Government House, Hongkong, 11th October, 1901.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 21st August enclosing a copy of a Despatch addressed to you by Mr. Jamieson.
2. I have carefully considered the proposals made by Mr. Jamieson as to provision for Customs Examination in Hongkong, and have confidentially submitted that proposal to the British Members of the Chamber of Commerce through Sir Thomas Jackson, the Chairman. Your Excellency will observe from the reply, of which I enclose a copy, that such a proposal could not be entertained; indeed even a slight experience of the conditions existing in Hongkong would show its impracticability. The system would involve an entire change in the character of this Port by the introduction of a Customs Establishment, and even granting that the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs were given the power to function in the waters of the Colony, the operation of the examination of cargo would practically be as inconvenient as at Kongmoon. The cargo is usually shipped direct from the Godowns to the Wharf. Therefore either the examination must take place in the Godowns, or the cargo must be forwarded by lighter to the...
BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, PEKIN.