NO SECRET
Copy to:-
Peking. No. 61.
Canton. No. 174.
50
25
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG 20th November, 1929.
My Lord,
In continuation of the tenth paragraph of my secret despatch, dated the 1st August, 1929, on the subject of the proposed customs agreement
between Hong Kong and China, 1 have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the draft of this agreement
was considered clause by clause in the Executive
Council on the 8th August 1929. The general principle
of the agreement was then accepted by the Executive
Council, and it was decided that the draft should be
forwarded confidentially to the Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Branch of the
China Association and to representative Chinese
merchants for their consideration. The draft was
not sent to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, as it
was feared that such a course could not be adopted
without premature disclosure of the negotiations.
The draft was, however, translated into Chinese, and
a Committee was formed, consisting of the Honourable
Sir Shou-son Chow, (Chairman), the Honourable Dr.R.H.
Kotewall,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD PASSFIELD,
2tc.,
&c.,
&c.