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In (2) on 72751/30
Dillo
Government to conclude and which, if concluded
in its present form, would facilitate trade and
commerce between Hong Kong and the Liang Kwang
provinces, as well as assist in the maintenance
of real friendship between this Colony and
Canton. I should, therefore, be glad to learn
by telegram whether Your Lordship approves of this
agreement as now reprinted and, if so, whether
I am authorised to send the reprint to Mr. Maze,
in order that he may place it before the Nanking
Government with an intimation that, if the
Chinese Government wishes to obtain the privileges
now sought for the Chinese Maritime Customs, it
must agree to concede the privileges hereby
sought for the trade of Hong Kong".
Mr. Moss, in a report to His Majesty's Mini ster
# on these di scussions (Canton despatch to Peiping No.
173 of 25th November), stated that it was clear that
the British and Chinesemerchants, while genuinely
anxious to arrive at an agreement which would obviate
the chances of friction with the Chinese Maritime
Customs, were strongly opposed to the grant of the
extraordinary privileges asked for by them unless a
substantial quid pro quo, such as that provided for
in Article V could be obtained by way of compensation.
}
A suggestion which hadbeen made by Sir
Miles Lamp son, that it might be preferable if the
proposed Customs Agreement could be concluded without
any reference being made to the navigation of Chinese
territorial watersby Hong Kong steamers, was considered,
but failed to obtain the support of the mercantile
interests