CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 430

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The demands which have been put forward by the Cus-

toms Authorities under cover of our promise to co-oper-

ate in safe-guarding the Chinese Revenue inspire more

serious apprehension. That apprehension is probably ex-

aggerated, because the pretensions of the Customs Auth-

orities appear inadmissible; but there can be no doubt

that it would be shared by every member of the Associa-

tion if it were thought possible that they could be en-

tertained.

The question is one of long standing. Com-

plaints of interference by the Chinese Revenue cruisers

with the junk trade had been so persistent that cognis-

ance was taken of the fact in the Chefoo Convention

(1876) in the follow

Following terms:-

"The Governor of Hongkong, having long com-

plained of the interference of the Canton Customs

Revenue cruisers with the junk trade of that Col-

ony, the Chinese Government agrees to the appoint-

ment of a Commission, to consist of a British Con-

sul, an Officer of the Hongkong Government, and a

Chinese official of equal rank, in order to the

establishment of some system that shall enable the

Chinese Government to protect its revenue without

prejudice to the interests of the Colony."

A Commission appointed in pursuance of that under-

standing agreed upon the following; among other condit-

which are expressed in an Agreement signed at

Tientsin on the 11th September, 1886:-

ions

"That an officer under the Foreign Inspector-

ate shall be established on Chinese Territory at a

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