CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 371

COPY

sir,

ENCLOSURE

in ch

C.U.

20484

369

(Real 12 SEP 3

HKong General Chamber of Commerce.

Hong-Kong,12th. August, 1898.

人

$

In view of the extension of Territory acquired

by the Convention of the 9th. June, I am instructed by the Com-

mittee of this Chamber to lay before the Government their opi-

nion on the question of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs

vis-à-vis this Colony. The Committee believe that some under-

standing was given to the effect that the extension of the

boundaries should not prove a source of loss to the Chinese

Revenue, and they quite concur in the desire to assist the

Chinese Government in the matter, so long as it can be done

without hampering the trade, or impeding the development of

the Colony, the future prospects of which, with enlarged boun-

daries,on its present basis of absolute freedom, are very pro-

mising. To secure their fulfilment, however, it should, in the

first place, be laid down that the existing Customs Stations

must be removed to Chinese territory, outside the Colony's

boundaries, and that the harbour be jealously guarded from the

intrusion of Chinese Revenue craft of any description. The de-

lays and obstructions to the movements of shipping, were the

The Hon.T.Sercombe Smith,

Chinese

Acting Colonial Secretary