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PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
Dated 8th May, 1930.
(Received Colonial Office 6.45 p.m.
8th May. 1930)
Addressed to H.M.Minister, Shanghai, No. 7 May 7th.
Repeated to the Secretary of State for the Colonies No. 28. Copy to Canton. Begine. Urgent. I received to-day your telegram 47 of 7th May. I await Maze's further comments. Last night and this morning statenent by Kuo in (semiofficial) News Agency in Nanking appeared in local Press giving very unfair account of position regarding Customs Agreement negotisions and endeavouring to throw blame for failure to ratify Agreement on longkong; saying that Maze has been instructed to proceed to Hong Kong to endeavour to arrange ratificicktion; also containing threat that if it is found impossible to arrive at mutual understanding Chinese Customs Authorities will be reluctantly compelled to strengthen preventive measures round the Colony.
also
This is obviously done for propaganda purposes and should not pass unchallenged. I propose to counter by authorising issus of reply by local Press on following lines. (1) HongKong is very anxious to as ist China in prevention of smugling and is prepared to go a long way to help her but is not prepared to give up sovereign rights without some benefit in return.
(2) No proof has yet been given of extensive smuggling from Hong Kong.
(3) Chinese Government alleging that smuggling is inevitable asked for such concession from Hong Kong as are conceded in no other place in the British Empire.
(4) Mr. Maze came to Hong Kong and asked for a Custos Agreement and a draft Agreement was prepared in consultation between Hong Kong
Government