43
Mr. Moss to Sir Miles Lampson.
H.B.M. Consulate General,
No. 87
(ar^ 1 copy)
Copies to:- F. 0. No. 33
Hongkong No.197
Swatow.
Amoy.
Foodhow.
Mr. Brett.
Sir,
Canton.
24th July, 1929.
With reference to page 7 of my despatch No. 73 of
the 15th June last about a conversation I had with Mr. T.V.
Sung regarding smuggling from Hongkong and its prevention,
I have the honour to report that on the 19th instant I
attended a Conference at Government House, Hongkong, on
the subject, at which His Excellency the Governor and the
Inspector-General of the Chinese Maritime Customs, with
their experts, discussed the situation with a view to
arriving at a preliminary agreement.
2.
Instructed by the Nationalist Minister of Finance,
Mr. F. W. Maze had undertaken a visit to Hongkong in order
to explore the situation and to endeavour to come to an
amicable understanding with the Hongkong Government whereby
the latter should help the Maritime Customs to protect
China's revenue, and the Customs in return should facilitate
the improvement of the Colony's trading machinery with
China. Mr. Maze accordingly sought permission for the
Chinese Maritime Customs to be allowed to function on
British soil and in British waters, as Sir Robert Hart had
suggested in 1899.
His Majesty's Minister,
Peking.
3./
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