Note by be. Gent (he. Ellis shie G. Grindle have sea)
on her, Hobhouse's letter
full
Please have drafted for my silamu as
an answer as is
permissible
मजड
2
30th May.
HONG KONG- CHINA CUSTOMS AGREEMENT
Extat 48
3/430 68
Mr. Hobhouse sets out clearly and accurately the
side of this question, but of course gives no prominence
to the arguments on the other side
ment's side.
-
the Hong Kong Govern-
The position briefly is that with the considerable
increases in the Chinese Tariff the Chinese Customs found
reason to suspect that considerable smuggling was being
developed of dutiable goods from Hong Kong into China.
They accordingly proposed to Hong Kong a Customs Agreement
to provide for a limited power of Chinese Customs Officers
and vessels to operate in Hong Kong waters with the active
assistance of Hong Kong Government officials.
Sir C.Clementi and his advisers very strongly
disliked the idea of Chinese Government officials with
their well known capacity for graft and political (anti-
British China irredenta) intrigue operating in Hong Kong.
He had every reason for this view from his experience of
the general slogans of the Kuo Min Tang, and of the operation
in Hong Kong of the Chinese Telegraph Office.
In the interests of good relations and the
suppression of illicit trade however he was prepared to come
to an agreement to protect the Chinese Customs Revenue, but