[This Document is the Property of His Britannia Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
(F.5071/52/10).
To CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Sir M. Lampson, (Peking).
Foreign Office, 18th October 1929. 4 p.m.
No. 355.
37
Hongkong Agreement re Chinese Maritime Customs.
Colonial Office have communicated copy of draft
agreement negotiated between Mr. Maze and Hongkong
government in July last and, subject to any observations
which you may have to offer, I have concurred in Colonial
Office proposal to inform Governor of Hongkong that con-
clusion of agreement on these lines is approved.
On October 4th Mr. Maze telegraphed to Mr.
Stephenson that Chinese government approved generally
the draft agreement but required modification of Article
5 to the extent of limiting Inland Waters privileges to
Hongkong Chinese-flag vessels. Mr. Stephenson wishes to
inform Mr. Maze as soon as possible whether agreement as
thus modified will prove acceptable to His Majesty's
Government.
Extension of inland water privileges to British
flag vessels operating from Hongkong might in case of
abuses similar to those which have so frequently oc-
curred in the past give rise to friction between Hong-
kong government and Chinese Customs with possible serious
reactions on our relations with China and on British
interests in China generally. Proposed limitation to
Chinese flag vessels while not seriously diminishing
benefits