151
0.9131,p.135.
19155/98. 19839/98.
On 19209/98.
the Colonial Government would take all possible pre- cautions to prevent the leased area being used to facilitate smuggling.
After the signing of the Convention, Sir C.
Macdonald was asked to find out from the Imperial Maritime Customs what arrangements they proposed with a view to assisting Fong Kong to prevent smugg- ling and where the customs stations would be placed.
This had to a certain extent been anticipated
T
by a despatch from the Yamen and a letter from Sir R.
Hart to Sir 0.Macdonald. Sir R.Hart's suggestions involved an active co-operation between the Hong Kong police and the Maritime Customs to prevent opium being shipped from Hong Kong without a permit from the Jari-
time Customs. The latter were also to collect duties
leviable on opium and general cargo, in Hong Kong:
their branch stations were to remain where they were (within the new frontier): The Kowloon Commissioner
was to be recognised as a Chinese officer, and assis-
ted. Chinese Customs cruisers could pursue ships into the waters of Hong Kong.
Colonial Office at once took exception to
these proposed rules; and was fortified by despatches from the Officer Administering the Government (Vajor General Black) and letters from Mr Sercombe Smith,
Sir Cecil Smith, and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce.
It was urged that the Chinese Customs officer should
be turned out of Hong Kong, an unofficial establish-
ment for the sale of opium certificates taking its place, if necessary, that the stations within the new
boundary should be removed; and that, in fine, no
officer
e
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