60.
57.
266
Art. 11. providing for co-operation in
checking illicit trade in opium, drugs, liquor
and tobacco, from China into Hongkong, was left
intact.
61.
Art. 12 in which the Hongkong Government
promised the collection and publication of
statistics of imports and exports (it will be
remembered they started this work and dropped
it) was discussed. The Governor pointed out
the expenditure had been considerable $60,000
a year) and the results inaccurate, The
Chinese Customs officials said the statistics
were desired chiefly in connexion with oil,
and if bonded warehouses were provided, the
system could be extended to other commodities.
The oil could be measured in tanks, and pay
duty before leaving Hongkong for entry into
China. The clause was left as it was. The
Governor said he was ready to introduce a new
clause, providing for payment of duty in
Hongkong on foreign goods imported for export
to China (I cannot discover that such a clause
was subsequently drafted, though the Governor
asked the experts to do so), and Mr. Maze said
he had submitted bonded warehouse regulations
for China, which might be extended to include
Hongkong.
62.
Article 14. providing penalties for false
declarations to the Customs, evoked discussion
as to how, and by what process of law, such
/penalties