2.
January 29th,1930. | 5
benefit of pseudo-British Chinese-owned tunnage under the British flag in Inland Waters trades, which however is definitely for the benefit neither of real British shipowners
nor British prestige. We cannot too strongly urge upon you our opinion, that it is essential in the future interests of British trade in China, which so greatly depends on friendly Anglo-Chinese relations, for this Agreement with the Customs to be completed and that, as the quid pro quo demanded by Hong Kong stands in the way of this result, it
should not be insisted on.
This culmination has led us, who as sugar refiners and shipbuilders in Hong Kong are just as vitally concerned with the prosperity of Hong Kong, as we are as shipowners concerned with Anglo-Chinese relations as a whole, to call for two Memoranda on the subject of the Colony, which we venture to enclose in the hope, that they may perhaps be of some interest and use to you. In these we have thought it better to be quite frank. In our view the present administration is entirely behind the times and what would have passed muster in days gone by now lends itself to criticism, which we feel ought
to be voiced in the national interest.
In this letter we have dealt mainly with the broader national aspect of the question and have more or less disregarded
the details of internal administration; but at the same time it
is only right to adu, that the shipping community is by no means satisfied, that the Harbour Office is acting in the best
interests of British shipping.
No are, Sir,
Your obedient Dervants,
sgol John Swice T'as is
The Under Secretary of State
for the Colonies