24
In any further communication on this subject please quote
No.F 1637/60/10.
and address-
not to any person by name
but to-
16
The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
(1 dup
deeps)
F
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
302
33
13th March, 1935.
(23)
22)
Sir,
14 MAR 1935
C. O. REGY
Sir John Simon to refer
I am directed by Secreta
to Colonial Office letter No. 53548/35 of the 11th March on
the subject of the export of explosives from Hong Kong to
China. From Hong Kong telegram No. 58, of which a copy was
enclosed therein, it would appear that a Central Government
"huchao" is not a legal prerequisite of the export of
explosives, military or otherwise, from Hong Kong to China.
Nevertheless, the Governor is unwilling to permit the export
without a "huchao" on the ground that some part of the
consignment is described in a "huchao" issued by the South
West Political Council as being for military use.
2.
23.
In his telegram No. 8 to Peking, of which a copy
was forwarded to you under cover of Foreign Office letter
No. F 1195/60/10 of the 27th February, the Governor reported (1)
that the explosives in question were destined, according to
Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Company for non-military purposes;
and he gave it as his opinion that the description in the
South West Political Council's "huchao" was intended to
secure exemption from Customs duties. It is not clear to
Sir John Simon whether anything has transpired to lead the
Governor to alter his opinion, and, in the absence of further
information, he is still disposed to agree with it.
Consequently, he would suggest, for the consideration of the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Governor be
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
instructed