CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 44

- 6 -

48

8.

On the 11th March, 1892, Governor Sir

William Robinson brought before Executive Council the question of the establishment of the office of the Chinese Maritime Customs in Hong Kong and of its removal to Chinese territory; and, with the advice of the Council, a letter dated 15th Larch, 1892, was addressed by Mr. V.M.

Goodman, the acting Colonial Secretary, to Mr. J.M. McLeavy

Brown, Commissioner of Customs for Kowloon and District,

asking him to fix an early date for the removal of the

Customs establishment to Chinese Kowloon. Un the 24th

March, 1892, lir. HicLeary Brown replied by direction of

Sir R. Hart that "we can move our office out of Hong Kong forthwith and shall withdraw completely as soon as

residences are ready on the Chinese mainland and a Chinese

bank established there by the Hoppo of Canton for the

receipt of the dues and duties we now deposit in the

Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank". The Colonial Secretary, Mr.

G.T.M. O'Brien, acknowledged this letter on the 4th April,

1892, and the matter again fell into abeyance.

9.

Nothing further was done until the

Convention leasing the New Territories to Great Britain

was signed on the 9th June, 1898. Then on the 18th July,

1898, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce telegraphed to the

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as follows:- "Hong

Kong Chamber of Camerce strenuously urges Government

insist absolute freedom from Chinese Customs and Jurisdic-

tion whole Kowloon extension territory, including city.

Anything less renders situation most unsatisfactory leading to endless complications". Subsequently on the 1st

September, 1898, the Chamber passed the following

resolutions:-

(1)/