Draft s. o. to Sir M.D. for Sir G.
Grindle's sig. saying we are advised as in Mr.
Ehrhardt's minute, and that if he concurs we
propose to send a copy of his letter and of the
present reply to Gov. confidentially for further
conson. and report.
At once A.5.0.
His reply attached.
before farther action this
had better wait for
m
20.7.23
For 25314
(R)
RES
CO
33926
REL 9 JUL 23
6th July, 1923.
35
Dear Grindle,
725
In his dispatch of the 5th April with reference to certain suspicious shipments to Japan (a copy of which you sent us semi- officially a few days ago) the Governor of Hong Kong states that the Hong Kong Government has no power to interfere with through cargo on board vessels putting in at Hong Kong. I shall be very glad to know whether your legal advisers concur in the Governor's opinion. I have always understood that any goods coming into a port of the United Kingdom are within the jurisdiction of the British Customs, and though it is not the practice to interfere with through cargo or with trans-shipments, there is the power to do so if the necessity
If that is the law in Great Britain, as I understand it to be, it could hardly be different, one would imagine, at Hong Kong. It is, of course, of the greatest importance that the authorities at Hong Kong should have power to examine through cargo suspected of containing druge not only on general grounds for the purpose of checking the operations of the illicit traffickers, but also because there is always the possibility of the stuff being landed at a port other than the place to which it is ostensibly consigned.
arose.
Parton Tose befor he goes
to the intenowe troth Sin
2
R Jellorque Tommor.
Ah
Bir Gilbert Grindle, E.C.M.G., C.B.
Scan
.
At once
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Yours 9 sincerely,
malcole delerigne