8. Gov.
secret-
4 16/11/38
Ref 4. Lubunit's obsons on (2). Encloses letter
from fir Frederick Mage.
The line taken by the Governor in this
$
despatch, namely that the Hong Kong Govt. would have
no locus standi for objecting to the Chinese Maritime
Customs collecting within the Colony duties in
accordance with the tariff/promulgated by an
to me to be legally comest unrecognised de facto Government in China Nor, I
think, would abstention from objecting to such
collection represent tacit recognition of the de
facto administration at Canton.
On the other hand, whatever the 16qal
position, I am not sure that such action by the
Hong Kong Government might not be ill received by the
Chinese Govt., and that for the time being it might
not be desirable to cease collecting revenue at the
Kowloom Railway Station and to collect it instead at
the frontier or at Canton.
I suggest that copies of 8 should be sent
to the F.0. observing accordingly and asking for
their observations. Copies of the letter and despatch
should be sent to the B.of T. confidential lf.
? So proceed.
7. Roges
3.12.38.
The liberty of the Charts Rankine Customs
he
1
assert & collect duty amponds
al
thi Tik
terminal of the railway on
parsing into China
a simple matter of
panties
Covels
In this roule is
To all
to avoid intefiounce & delay