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Kotewall, C.M.G., the Honourable Dr. S.V. Ts'o, 0.B.E.,
and Messrs. Li Yau-ts'ün, C.B.E., Li Yik-mui, Chau
U-ting, Tong Yat-chuen, Chau Tsun-nin, Li Koon-chun and
Lo Man-kam, to ascertain and inform me as to the views
of the Chinese merchants of Hong Kong.
2. The most careful consideration has been
given to the document, and many criticisms on points of detail have been made; but the principle of the
agreement has been accepted by British and Chinese
merchants in this Colony alike. The view of
the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the
Hong Kong Branch of the China Association is that an
agreement on the lines proposed would be of considerable
value to Hong Kong, while the Chinese merchants
reported on the 20th August, 1929, as follows :-
"Generally this agreement may be regarded as favourable to both countries, because on the one hand China will
derive great benefit from the previous decision to
prevent smuggling, and on the other hand Hong Kong will
remain a distributing centre in South China".
Accordingly I appointed a small drafting Committee,
consisting of Sir Joseph Kemp (Chairman), the
Honourable Mr. B.D.F. Beith, representing British
merchants, and the Honourable Dr. R.H. Kotewall,
representing Chinese merchants, to consider the criticisms made on points of detail and to prepare agreed amendments.
3.
Meanwhile i received, on the eve of my departure to visit the Governor General of the
Philippines,