COPY.
41
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
3 October, 1928.
52835/28.
sir,
I am directed by Hr. Secretary Amery to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter C.R. T.1308/28 of the 5th of
September, on the subject of the alleged discrimination
against United States interests in Hong Kong.
.2. Mr. Amery is unable to agree with the opinion
of the Board of Trade that the Hong Long Goverment by
restricting motor omni us licences to British vehicles
are,
in effect, imposing a prohibition on the import of
foreign made motor omnibuses. If the Hong Kong
Government ran a Gov.rnment motor omnibus service, no one
would suggest that buying the vehicles from Britain
exclusively amounted to an import prohibition. The same
principle applies if, instead of establishing a Govern-
ment service, the Hong Kong Government chooses to
achieve the same end by licence. To take an analogy in
this country; if the unici, ality in Bir ingham in issuing
licences stipulated for British motor omnibuses only,
THE SECRETARY,
BOARD OF TRADE.