33
Sir Gilbert
in other discussions with China.
Grindle pointed out that sea-going motor boats
might also have to be included, and suggested
that we should try including them, together
with junks and launches, and if the Chinese pressed
the point, agree to the seizure of all vessels
under the Chinese flag,
Mr. Griffiths said that world still
the point of principle we remain.Sir John
wa
Pratt pointed out that the use in paragraph (d)
seemulto be consequent on the use in paragraph
(b) where the word "vessel" is really necessary.
He suggested that possibly all that was actually
intended was that Hong Kong should have the right
to detain vessels and extract security. It
was agreed that the point should be further
áiscussed between the Foreign Office and the
Board of Traue.
The question was then discussed between
whom the Agreement should be made. The Foreign
Office representatives pointed out that as the
Agreement imposed obligations which could only
be discharged by the respective Governments, it
could not be one between the Chinese Maritime
Customs and the appropriate Hong Kong Department, but
might be governmental and in that case,His
Majesty's Government in the U.K. must be the party
on