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His Excellency: In Sir Frederick Iugard's time the question of negotiating a Customs Convention,
similar to that which Manking now has in mind, was brought up and I was authorised to discuss the
matter with r. A.H. Harris, thon Commissioner for
Kowloon and District.
We prepared a draft Customs Agreement but while the matter was still
under discussion, I was transferred elsewhere and
therefore was not here during the concluding stages
of discussion. I went away in 1913, but the
discussion continued and the final draft is dated
24th April, 1918 - I have nothing more recent. Subsequently in 1920 Mr. Harris proposed an
additional clause as follows :-
"In considoration of the facilities given
"by the foregoing Agreement to the
"Chinose Customs Service to function in
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"Hong Kong and District and of the
arrangements to be made by the Government
of Hong Kong to this end, the Chinese
"Govermont agrees to contribute towards
the expenses of the Colony of Hong Kong
*5% of all revenue collected by the Customs Offices in Hong Kong both on general cargo and on salt in excess of the average "collection of the past three years.
Payments shall be made quarterly during the
duration of this Arocment".
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