$
$1
DARIS,
198
July 27th, 1912.
French Government in "onsieur de Selve's "ote of the
30th October 1911, a copy of which was transmitted
to you in my despatch No. 323 Commercial of
36909
November 9th, 1911 in connection with the tranship-
ment at Fong Kong of goods coming from British
Colonies already enjoying the minimum tariff, and
which by reason of the transhipment would be subjected
to higher duties on arrival in French ports,
The Minister of Commerce is also desirous to
receive information as to the nature of the produce
and the amount of cargos which are transhipped in
Japan instead of Hong Kong and I shall be glad to
be informed what answer I can make to this inquiry.
(Signed)
I have 3c.,
Francis Bertie.
Monsieur le Ministre:-
I have the honour, in accordance with instruc-
tions from Sir F. Grey to inform Your Fxcellency that
His Majesty's Government are anxious to obtain from the
French Government an arrangement for Hong Kong under
which all goods transhipped in that colony should not
be subject to any heavier duty on arrival in France than
that to which they would be subject if shipped direct
and in one bottom from their country of origin.
I am to point out that Hong Kong is almost a free
port and offers great advantage to the trade of all
foreign countries. It is not a producing centre but a
port of transhipment and as such it is of great im
portance that goods transhipped there should not be sub-
ject to any heavier duty on arrival in France than that
to which they would be subject if shipped direct from
their country of origin. The grant of the concession
requested from the French Covernment would not adversely
affect French revenue since goods, in order to obtain
the minimun tariff are now transhipped in Japan. If
the concession were granted they would be transhipped in
Hong Kong
Wed