CO882-(4-5) — Page 532

102

I am to request that Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies will favour Lord Salisbury with his views as to the reply which should be returned to the Chinese Government.

I am, &c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE,

103

5. The offer that the Hong Kong Government should collect the Opium revenue on behalf of the Chinese Government was made as one which should be welcomed by the latter, and it appears to Her Majesty's Governinent that they would do well to accept it.

I

am, &c.,

EDWARD WINGFIELD.

TI

ستانسيا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Enclosure in No. 75.

TRANSLATION of a TELEGRAM from the TSUNGLI YAMEN, dated Peking,

9th March, 1899.

Sir Claude MacDonald stated in a letter to this Yamên that the customs duties within the territory leased to Great Britain at Kowloon should be collected by British officials for the Chinese Government, and that the Imperial customs station' should be removed.

Please earnestly explain the following to Lord Salisbury :-

That, as the extension of Hong Kong was granted in an exceptionally friendly spirit, and, moreover, it was expressly agreed by, the exchange of notes that the Governor of Hong Kong is to render every assistance for the effective collection of customs duties by the Imperial Government, the proposed removal of the customs station is not only contrary to the original agreement, but will leave a door widely open for smugglers.

That, in the Convention for the extension of Hong Kong, it is especially stipulated that within the City of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, and there is no stipulation as to the removal of the customs station. And that the continuance of the Imperial customs station for the collection of duties will not be in the least degree interfering with British administration.

Please lay before his Lordship of the above facts and reasonings so as to preserve our rights of revenue.

7940

7840

No. 17.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received 5.35 p.m., March 23, 1899.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

On the 19th the provisional boundary of the extension was agreed to, including river, excluding Sham Chun and valley, which are referred to Pekin. Referring to telegram of yesterday from British Minister, Pekin, to Foreign Office-community would strongly object to retention of Customs in British waters or territory, I [it is] desired to take over early in April. British Minister to-day telegraphs conveying request of the Chinese Government to suspend action pending instructions from Her Majesty's Government. I have informed him that [I] agree to suspension of action till 15th prox., and taken measures necessary for bonding opium if boundary including Sham Chun and valley [be] agreed to. Very important houses for polloe and executive staff be ready before next month, when rains begin.

Reference :-

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

6466.

No. 76.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE. [Answered by No. 90.]

Downing Street, March 22, 1899,

SIB,

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th inst., inclosing copy of a telegram from the Tsungli Yamen, relative to the proposed removal of the Chinese Customs Station at Kowloon, and asking to be favoured with Mr. Chamberlain's views as to the reply which should be made to the Chinese Government.

2. In reply, I am to suggest that, if the Marquess of Salisbury sees no objection, it should be explained to the Tsungli Yamên that the proposal that the Hong Kong Government shall collect the Chinese Opium Revenue has been made in the interests of the Chinese Government, and with a view to checking smuggling and the difficulties which have arisen in consequence.

3. That Her Majesty's Government desire to reciprocate the friendliness shown by the Chinese Government in leasing the territory adjoining Hong Kong, and being anxious to carry out their pledges as to facilitating the collection of Customs Revenue in the most effective way, they see no other way so effective as the one which they have proposed.

your

4. The reference in the Convention to Kowloon City was not understood to have special bearing on the Customs question. The Customs Station at Kowloon was not referred to by Sir Robert Hart in his letter of the 27th June last, enclosed in letter of the 24th August last,† and appears to be outside the city, and it is impossible to contemplate the existing Chinese Customs Stations being maintained in, and Chinese cruisers patrolling the coasts of, territory under British administration, for it is obvious that such a state of affairs could only result in constant friction between Her Majesty's and the Chinese Government, and constant loss of revenue.

No. 75.

† No. 20.

7361 8.

Six,

(Confidential.)

No. 78.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received March 24, 1899.)

[Answered by No. 79.] ·

Foreign Office, March 23, 1899. Wrrн reference to the letters from this Office of the 10th and 15th instant,* I am directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to transmit to you herewith, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copies of two telegrams which have been received from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, stating the objections of the Chinese Government to the proposed removal of the Chinese Customs stations and officers from the Colony of Hong Kong and the leased territory adjoining.

Enclosure 1 in No. 78.

I am, &c.,

F. H. VILLIERS.

Paraphrase of a telegram from Sia C. MACDONALD, Peking, D. 2.80 p.m., R. 38.45 p.m., March 22, 1899.

(No...79.)

It is pointed out by Yamên that our proposal as to opium revenue completely ignores question (?) of revenue on Hong Kong junk trade with China. Opium revenue about 300,000 taals; other Customs revenue about 700,000 taals.

Yamén say if

Nos. 72 and 75.

104