<
COPY.
J. No. 1215.
Enclosure.
2.454
C
о
12811
Rece 13 APR 10
Hongkong, 7th. March, 1910.
Sir,
With reference to the Regulation made by
the Governor-in-Council under Section 55 (h) of the Liquors
Ordinance, 1909, the 5th. of January, 1910, and concerning the
exemption of the baggage and personal effects of certain Consul-
-ar officers from the provisions of the Ordinance relating to
the examination of baggage and personal effects brought into the
Colony, I had made enquiries at the Imperial Government in
Tsingtau to ascertain whether a British Consul at Tsingtau en-
-joys there any courtesies of a similar kind.
ultimo
The.Government at Tsingtan informs me by a
letter, dated the 17th, and whereof I beg to enclose a copy,
that the personal luggage of a Consul passes the Customs without
ado, if the Consul mentions his name and position.
If there are nailed boxes or similar cases
amongst the luggage the Consul is asked whether they contained
weapons, Opium or other dutiable goods and if the question is
answered in the negative, also these boxes etc. pans without
examination, if there does not exist the positive cause of
suspicion of defraudation of customs or if the number of such
boxes is not very great.
As, in my opinion, under these circumstances
the same facilities as in Tsingtau might be given to the German
Consul here, I have the honour to ask you kindly to consider
the question. I beg to mention that with reference to the un-
-importance of the matter I should think it would meet the case
if you, without any special regulation being published in the
Government Gazette, would inform me that it is understood that
the courtesies of the Harbour would be given to a German Consul
here to the same extent and as long as they are given to a
British