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traffic to and from Hongkong, as it would enable me
to make arrangements by which Chinese goods transhipped
at Hongkong and conveyed thence by junk shall not, as
now, come under the new National Import Tariff.
I trust that Your Excellency will permit me to
hope that the Chinese Government's attitude in connexion
with Article V., as described above, will not close the
door to further discussion? In the general interests
of the Colony and of China, especially South China
it seems to me that a revision of the existing Maritime
Customs system in the so-called "Kowloon" District is
absolutely essential. And if we study the British
Government's attitude in the past, it is clear, I
believe, that there has always been a disposition on
their side to assist China to protect that part of her
Revenue which the existence of a British free-port
(Hongkong) at her front-door (Canton) seriously jeo-
pardises.
I ought to add that I am acquainting Mr.Osborne,
the "Kowloon" Commissioner, with the sense of this
letter.
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
(3d.)
F. W. Maze.
P.5.
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