CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 372

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要

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Chinese Customs allowed a free hand in our waters, would cons-

titute a serious interference with that freedom, which has

mainly contributed to build up the present prosperity of this

port. Without such provision, too, it would be impossible to

have that free communication and interchange of produce be-

tween Victoria and the outlying additions to the Colony which

may naturally be expected to develop.

That some advantage might accrue to the Colony

by its being placed on the footing of a treaty port, and there-

fore participating in the facilities afforded by the inland

Steam Regulations, is quite possible, but such advantages would

be greatly outweighed by the counter-balancing drawbacks.For

the Colony to accept them as an equivalent for the freedom of

the port, would be like bartering its birthright for a mess of

pottage.

This Chamber, while invincibly opposed to the

continuance in the Colony of the Customs Collectorate of a

foreign state, have no wish to place any impediment in the way

of that state obtaining its rightful revenue, nor do they de-

sire that a single dollar should be made by the Hong-Kong Go-

vernment at the expense of China, but this can, they believe, be

readily effected without the maintenance of any Customs Sta-

tions or Collectorate within the Colony. The chief article

which requires special protection for the Chinese Government

is opium, and the Committee are of opinion that, in connection

with this import,more could perhaps be done than is at pre-

sent