Any further communication should be addressed to:-
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, at the address given opposite.
The following letter and number should be quoted :-
C.R.T. 3021/29.
Telegraphic Address : COLASTA, PARL, LONDON.
Telephone No.: 3840 Victoria.
20
Sir,
30119
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND TREATIES
DEPARTMENT,
BOARD OF TRADE,
GREAT GEORGE STREET,
LONDON, S.W.1.
13th November, 1929.
1. (19)
In reply to your letter of the 24th October, No.62847/29,
respecting the proposed agreement between the Government of
Hong Kong and the Chinese Maritime Customs for the safe-
guarding of the Customs Revenue of China, and for securing reciprocal benefits of trade and commerce, I am directed by
the Board of Trade to state, for Lord Passfield's information,
that they are in principle entirely in favour of the con-
clusion of such an agreement. They note, however, from the
Foreign Office letter of the 18th October addressed to your
Department, that the Chinese Government have asked for a
modification of Article 5 of the agreement, to the extent
of limiting the proposed inland waters privileges to Hong
Kong and chinese-flag vessels. Such a limitation of the
privileges to be accorded by this article to Chinese vessels
may at first sight appear to involve the question of the Treaty obligations which have been undertaken by Hong Kong in connection with the treatment of foreign shipping within
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
S.W.1.