89
M
-3-
To rcmcdy
intcusíicd the objection to "the blockade".
the laxity and impose a restraint on cvil intention,
the co-operation of the Chincsc Maritime Customs was
invoked and Sir Robert Hart ussisted to the cxtcnt
of putting foreign officers on board the steam cruiscs,
with no antrol or responsibility, but charged with the
duty of restraining these craft from committing illcgal
actions.
The Hong Kong community, however, continued
to have a fooling of cxasperation at this interference
with the Colony's trade and protests were frequent.
But in December, 1879, at a conference with the Hong
Kong Chamber of Comacrec, Sir Thomas Tade, His Majesty's
Minister at Poking, declared that "the blockade stations
would not be removed by the Chinese until the Colony
devised some scheme by which the Chinosc Government could
collect the revenue fairly due to them". This vas
held in Hong Kont to be a demand to sacrifice the freedom
of the port, in order to gain the removal of the blockade.
Meanwhile on the 13th Scptember, 1876, Sir T.
Wade and Li Hung-chang had signed the Chefoo Convention,
the 7th article of which was as follows:- "The Governor
of Hong Kong having long complained of the interference
of the Canton Customs Revenue Cruisers with the junk
trade of that Colony the Chinese Government agrees to
the appointment of a Commission, to consist of a British
Consul, an officer of the Hong Kong Government, and a
Chinese