the space within the walls will practically be uninhabited, I we may hope that one of the difficulties of the convention will disappear. Another difficulty is Prevention of smuggling with China of which we have pledged ourselves to surfering as far as possible. I think it possible that the Chinese Government may try to keep their garrison there. For instance the Viceroy of Canton, in his so-called regulations, writes "The Kowloon shall, as heretofore, exercise their several functions within the city, but they must not place any impediments in the way of military works connected with the defences of Hongkong." This wording is vague but you must begin by taking it for granted and make in our communication through the Foreign Office to the Chinese government that the garrison will be withdrawn. A greater difficulty is Prevention of smuggling with China to which we have pledged ourselves as far as possible. The Chinese government have been informed that all possible precautions will be taken to prevent smuggling.
Clause 7 of Section III relates to smuggling in the leased area. Smuggling into China or in any other way being a detriment to the interests of Hongkong being a free port has no custom house. This fact, coupled with its geographical position, has facilitated smuggling; and there was in past years what was called a blockade of the tax fort by Chinese revenue cruisers constantly making seizures in British waters. The Chefoo Convention of 1876 contained a clause as to importation into Chinese ports by which opium was treated differently from other imports. It also contained a clause as to complaints made by the Governor of Hongkong regarding the interference of the Canton Customs revenue cruisers with the trade of that colony. The Chinese government agreed to the appointment of a Commission to consist of a British consul and an officer of the Hongkong government and a Chinese official of equal rank in order to establish some system that shall enable the Chinese customs...
Page 3
le. the space
within the walls will practically beadne uninhabited, I we may hope that one of the difficulties of the convention. will. disoppear. Aprender difficulty is Prevention of banggling with Clorina
of
.
Which we have fledged surforening
I think it possible that the Chinese Gavernment may try to keep their garrison there. For instance the Viceroy of Caution, in his socalled regulations, writes
י
"
"The"
Kowloon shall, as
h
1/
Section III
officials of the City of their several functions" heretofore! exercise their within the city, but they must not place any impediments in the way of military works connected with the defences of Hongtong." This would alless is vague but you must begin by taking it for granted and lake in our communi- -cation through the oreign office to the Chinese government that the garris.. will be withdrawn. A greater difficulty is Prevention of smuggling with China to When in we have pledged ourselves as far as possible. The Chinese government
have been informed that all possible precautions will be taken to prevent-
plause 3
Section III
clause 7
the leased area
Smuggling
to the
9 China
has
being anod to facilitatez
into China or in any
other way
detriment of the interests
Hongkong being a free fat has no custom house, This fact compled with its geographical position her facilitated y fomuggling; and there cook in past year what was called a blockade
tax fort
by Chi constantly making seigance Waters. The Cheffor
Chinese Uvenue cruisers,
in British
Convention 9 1876 11876
contained a clause as to impratation ints Chinese parts by which
opiam
it was treated differently from other imports. The dancer! It also con-
followe
·tained a clause as
..
•
com-
hade g
1. The governor of Hongtong having long "plained of the interfucico of the Cauton "Customs revenue cruiser with the Frade.
that colony, the Chinese government apres to the appointment of & Commission.
to consist
A
a British consul an
affice
...I the Hongling government and a Chinese official of equal ranth in order to the establishment of some sysiem that shall enable the Chinese quanmut-
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