7
appointment.
These, however, like the other
objections raised by the Hong Kong Government,
are not matters which it is easy to put to the
Chinese, una it is difficult to think of any
reasons which we could give for refusing to
agree to their definite request for the
appointment of a Chinese Consul in the Colɔny.
The Foreign Office. might, of course, be persuadeȧ
simply to return a plain negative.
There will then arise the question of
consular invoices. It may be somewhat difficult
to go to the Chinese and suggest that the
Commissioner of Customs shoula perform the
consular functions in this matter owing to there
being no consul in Hong Kong, when we are at the
same time, for no reason which we can explain to
the Chinese, refusing to agree to the appointment
of such a consul. Until it is clear that they
accept the decision that no consul can be
established in the Colony, it seems to be useless
to pursue the question of who is to perform
the consular duties.
This is a very tangled matter, and 1
The
suggest that it would now be best to discuss it
in conference with the Foreign Office.
official letter already authorised on 92365/32
might be sent, and at the same time a semi-
official letter on this file, including a copy
of No. 5 and proposing a conference on the
whole matter.
There are further items of
correspondence on 92675 and 92669, on which no
action seems necessary at present.
5. Cami
23.8.22