218
500m 62847A/29
Ditto.
(n)
Obtaining from the Hong Kong
Government in
return for these advantages the right to
function freely in Hong Kong waters in
examining junks, launches, etc. and their
cargoes, levying and collecting the duties
due to the Chinese Government, in making
legitimate seizures, and arranging for the
restoration to China of the right to re-
establish certain CustomsStations in British
waters
•
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
and the HongKong Branch of the China Association, who
were consulted by the Governor, held the view that
an agreement on the lines proposed would be of
considerable value to Hong Kong. A committee formed
to ascertain the views of Chinese merchants reported
as follows:- "Generally this agreement may be
regarded as favourable to both countries, because on
the one hand China will derive great benefit from
the previous decision to prevent smuggling, and on
the other hand Hong Kong will remain a distributing
centre in South China".
On the 23rd September Mr. Maze informed
Sir C. Clementi that a recent conference of the Chinese
authorities at Nanking, while agreeing that the
general terms of the instrument were entirely acceptable,
expressed the opinion that it would be inconsistent for
the Governments to depart officially from their
declared policy of ultimately withdrawing from foreign
shipping the privilege of participating in the
Coastal trade of China, by formally extending to
Hong Kong