CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 20

In any

further communication on this subject, please quote

རིགས་ཐོ?)

No.

F 8554/3/10.

and address-

not to any person by name,

mt to- >

"The Urtler-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

زاد

35

18

20

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W. 1.

30th November, 1927.

no14

Sir,

I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain to

refer to your letter of the 9th November enclosing copies

(nos(2013)08

16 DEC 1097

Copy Ew. Levret

вор

13

of two despatches from the Governor of Hong Kong and inviting

the observations of Sir Austen Chamberlain on the question

of a possible recrudescence of smuggling from Hong Kong to

China consequent on any increase in duties that may be

enforced in the latter country.

2. The historical summary of the question of the fiscal

blockade of Hong Kong contained in the latter of the two

despatches above referred to appears to show that the

Government of Hong Kong would be well advised to assist the

Chinese Authorities in their endeavours to collect the

It seems

duties on the trade between Hong Kong and China.

desirable that such duties should be collected by the

Chinese Maritime Customs rather than by any native

administration or preventive service, and Sir Austen

Chamberlain observes with pleasure that the Governor is

prepared to modify the attitude towards the Maritime

Customs which has been maintained for many years past by

himself and his predecessors.

3. The danger that tariff autonomy may result in a

large increase in smuggling in native craft and small

steam or motor vessels is one which has not escaped the

attention of this department. So far as Hong Kong is

concerned this danger might be met by endeavouring to

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

arrange

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