CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906 — Page 190

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

185

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[36222]

No. 1.

[October 25.]

SECTION

C O.

42969

Question asked in the House of Commons, October 25, 1906.

REC R: 22 NOV O

Mr. H. H. Marks,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he can state whether the conditions under which the administration of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs were granted by China during the currency of the Chinese loans of 1896 and 1898 are being duly observed.

Answer.

When the loans of 1896 and 1898 were raised the Chinese Government undertook that the administration of the Maritime Customs should remain as then constituted during the currency of the loans. By the Imperial Edict of the 9th May last the Customs administration was transferred from one Chinese Government Department to another, but this does not necessarily imply more than a change of form, and it has not, so far, made any difference to the administration of the Customs service by Sir R. Hart.

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