CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 251

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[26525]

C O

[July 22.]

3447

SECTION 2.

No. 1.

af 3 FEB 1

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.--(Received July 22.)

Downing Street, July 21, 1910,

I AM directed by the Earl of Crewo to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, the enclosed copy of a despatch from the officer administering the government of Hong Kong, in which he forwards copies of correspondence with His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking, and asks whether the colony is entitled to claim, under the most-favoured-nation clause, the benefit of privileges similar to those conferred upon France by the additional convention of commerce between France and China dated the 26tli June, 1887.

2. Lord Crewe would be glad if Sir E. Grey would advise him as to the answer which should be returned to Sir F. May's enquiry.

I am, &c.

H. BERTRAM COX.

My Lord,

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Acting Governor Sir F. May to the Earl of Crewe.

Government House, Hong Kong, June 6, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to forward the enclosed copy of a despatch, dated the 4th ultimo, which I addressed to His Britannic Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking, and of Mr. W. G. Max Müller's reply, dated the 18th idem, and I shall be glad to learn whether the privileges in question can be claimed for this colony under the most- favoured-nation clause.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

F. H. MAY.

Sir,

Acting Governor Sir F. May to Mr. Max Müller.

Government House, Hong Kong, May 4, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that my attention has been drawn to articles 3 and 4 of the additional convention of commerce between France and China, signed at Peking on the 26th June, 1887 (Hertslet, p. 312), which provide-

(2.) That foreign goods imported to Yunnan and Kuangsi from Tonquin shall only pay 70 per cent. of the import duties collected by the Customs at the coast ports of China.

(b.) That produce exported from China to Tonquin shall only pay 60 per cent. of the export duties in force at the treaty ports.

(c.) That Chinese produce which has paid import duties under article 11 of the treaty of 1886 and is transported through Tonquin to a port of shipment in Cochin- China shall, if exported thence to any other place than China, pay export duties according to the Franco-Annamite tariff.

2. It has been suggested to me that Russia, Japan, and Germany may perhaps under the most-favoured-nation clause have claimed similar privileges in the north of China, and I shall be glad if your Excellency will be good enough to inform me whether this is the case, and, if so, whether the similar privileges can be claimed for this colony.

I have, &c.

F. H. MAY.

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