3.
Government, on the subjest of inland water navigatiɛn
rights and whether it would not be preferable if the +
proposed Customs egressent could be concluded without
may reference being made to the navigation of chinese
territorial waters by Hong Kong steamer.
5.
65
After emreful consideration of the whole question
I am inclined to think that so far as concerns the main
ismus, i.*., the right to participation in the coastal
and inland water trade of China, the satter is really ɑIN
for the companies themselvas te decide.
ɛna
The British ship-
have
ping companies at Hong Kong, though they may not new kayn
may direct interest in the trade betwem heng nong nad
inland places on the west liver and Danton Delta, are the
Companies most interested in the general question of sous tal
trade all over China. If this pressime la correat then it
would seem to follow that it is for the companies to deside
whether the offer made to them by the Chinese, through the
Hong Kong Government, is worth sericus consideration er
not.
6. In these oiramaiance a I do not feel justified
in expressing any view or suggesting any lead to the Boys
Long