CORY.
CONFIDENTIAL.
98
hanghai Office of the Inspectorate General of Customs
21, Hart Road,
Shanghai.
23rd September 1929.
Dear Mr. Stephenson,
With reference to my letters dated 8th July
and 2nd ultimo, on the subject of the proposed
Anglo-Chinese Customs' Agreement, I append hereto
copies of letters which I am sending to Lampson
and Clementi in this connexion. You will observe
therefrom that the Chinese Government, as 1 antici-
pated, have declined to agree to Article V, and I
consider that their attitude in relation thereto
This
is perfectly logical. I have been asked to endeavour
to smooth over the difficulty, and my proposal is to
restrict the extension of Inland Waters privileges
to Hongkong vessels flying the Chinese flag.
confers unquestionable advantages upon a section
of Hongkong shipping, and I trust that Clementi will
accept the compromise. In my opinion, the flongkong
Government in their own interest ought to accept
the revised terms, and extend reasonable facilities
to China in order to enable her to protect that
part of her Revenue which the proximity of the free-
port of Hongkong seriously endangers.
J. W. Stephenson, Esquire,
London.
Yours truly,
•
(Sd.) F.W.Maze.
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