CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 166

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some concession might well be made pending a final settlement. He proposes, however, to limit the use of these additional ports of call to passenger traffic, holding, as he does, the opinion that there are difficulties attending Customs supervision of merchandize at such stations.

He further informs me that he will strongly recommend to the Chinese Government the opening of Kongmoon as a regular port of foreign trade, in order to facilitate the regulation of the traffic entering the West River from Hong Kong and Macao. At the same time, he will advocate the opening of Leichow, the Prefectural city of the peninsula of that name, which is nearly opposite the French possession of Kwang Chow Wan. His suggestion is that these two ports should form branch stations of the Canton Maritime Customs-their trade being practically centred in Canton.

I venture to add, as I have already explained in my despatches above referred to, that the opening of additional ports of call may well be accepted as a satisfactory concession to the Steamer Companies and will enable them to pay their way pending a final adjust- ment of the whole question.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

JAMES SCOTT,

Inclosure 3 in No. 2.

Messrs. Deacon and Co. to Sir J. Mackay.

Canton, November 19, 1901. My dear Sir James,

CAPTAIN DIXON, of the steam-ship "Sainam," tells me that you would like to have copies of our letter to the Commissioner of Customs in regard to the doings of I accordingly towed junks on the West River, with the Commissioner's reply thereto. have much pleasure in inclosing the copies required, say, of our letter of the 29th October last, and of Mr. Morgan's letter of the 9th instant.

I hope you had a pleasant trip up to Wuchow, and am very glad to learn, confidentially, from Mr. Scott, that the Commissioner of Customs has taken action on your urging, and has recommended to Sir Robert Hart the opening of several more places of call, in addition to Kongmoon and Leichow (in the Leichow peninsula) as Treaty ports. This will go a long way towards patching up matters for the time being, but we must not lose sight of the fact hat it will not satisfy all we want.

Such a good commencement of your work in our region is most gratifying, and augurs well for the future; and you have our best thanks for all you have done and are doing.

If I can be of any use to you in any way don't fail to call upon nie to render any assistance I can, either individually or in connection with our Chamber of Commerce.

Wishing you a successful visit to the other ports from every stand-point, yours, &c.. (Signed) H. D. FEARON.

P.S.-To complete the series I inclose copies of two earlier letters-ours to Customs and their reply---both of the 15th October last.

H. D. F.

Inclosure 4 in No. 2.

Dear Sir,

Messrs. Deacon and Co. to Mr. Morgan.

Canton, October 1, 1901. HAVING heard that steamers have been granted permission to call at all or any ports in the Leichow peninsula and the Canton delta, provided that a bond be given that they will not enter Hong Kong waters, Macao waters, or touch at Kwang Chao Wan- we beg to request that similar facilities may be granted to our West River steamiers--- steam-ships "Nanning" and "Sainam"-enabling them to call at all places on the

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