52
35/2 not put lig)
30035727
(Can't Pokiong)
- 3.
secret (2), of the 12th August, 1927. I, therefore, replied to Ir. Haze that I would be perfectly willing to enter into a discussion with him forthwith, but
that there were two preliminary points, on which I should need an assurance. The first concerned the
office of the Commissioner of Chinese Customs for
Kowloon and district. I reminded him that at the
present time the Chinese Customs officials in Hong Kong are to all intents and purposes under notice to quit; that they have not been formally accorded the right to maintain an office in this Colony; that the Commissioner of Customs for Kowloon and district is
not recognised here as a Chinese official, but that
he is without official status of any kind. In this connection, I refer you to paragraphs 2 to 12 of my
Enclosure No.5. despatch, secret (2), of the 12th August, 1927, and,
for convenience of reference, I attach a copy of these
paragraphs. I then pointed out that, in the draft
agreement of 1918, in Article 16, it was stipulated that
#
'during the duration of this agreement, the
Commissioner of Chinese Customs in Hong Kong shall
continue to be British". I pointed out, and Mr. Maze
admitted, that the Nanking Government was definitely embarked on a policy of sinification of its customs service, and I said that it would be quite impossible
for the Hong Kong Goverment to allow a Chinese
official to function in this Colony as Commissioner of
Chinese Maritime Customs. It would, therefore, be
necessary for me to stipulate in any draft agreement
now