CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 469

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which have been so constant in

past years. It is obvious that

this proposal is a very advanta-

geous one for the Chinese Govern-

ment. It would not only enable

them to obtain payment of their

Customs duties on opium in a

much easier and more effective

manner than hitherto, but it would

also save them the great expense

and trouble of maintaining their

fleet of reverie cruisers and

launches in the waters of Hong

Kong and its vicinity.

4.

Finally, with regard to the

question of the boundary,. Mr.

Lockhart's report shows that the

line

on the lap attached to

the Convention cuts in two the

valley of which Sham Chun is the

centre

centre, and while leaving that

town to China, divides the vil-

lages in the valley hitherto

linked together by family ties

and common interests.

Shani

Chun is also the seat of the 10-

cal Government Council which con-

trols the portion of the San On

district included within the

leased area. It is moreover to

be feared that if this town be

allowed to remain just outside

the leased territory, it will,

as was the case with Kowloon,

prove a constant source of

trouble and friction between the

Governments of Hongkong and

China, and facilitate smuggling

into China to the injury of the

Chinese revenue.

Shani

y