ET
74
2.
lack of reciprocity towards the Fongkong Government
which a lovy on railway-borne poods displayed. To this
latter memorandum I have received no reply, but duty paid
(Kowloon) private effects in the hands of European
travellers to points between the frontier and the pro-
vincial capital are being mulcted in likin charges to the
extent of 21% ad valorem. The position under the unrati-
fied Working Agreement being such as outlined in your
despatch No.447 of November 13 to the Secretary of Rtaba,
I do not think that any useful purpose would be served,
unless instructed to the contrary, by making additional
representations. According to the strict letter of the
Treaty, the Provincial Covernment are acting within their
rights. Whether or not in equity they are justified in
penalising goods or private effects to intermediate points
on the line which have a less distance to travel than
goods or private effects to the city of Canton is another
matter.
The imposition of likin on purely native goods
undoubtedly