CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 45

- 7 -

49

(1) that the Customs Office be no longer permitted to

collect duties in the Colony or its waters:

(2) that all opium arriving in the Colony be accounted

for either through the agency of bonded warehouses

or otherwise:

(3) that the Government do all in their power to protect

the Chinese revenue, more especially with regard to

the Opium Farmer:

(4) that the revenue stations and revenue cruisers be

moved beyond the limits of British territory and

British waters.

10.

-

-

Meanwhile Sir R. Hart in a letter to Sir

C.M. Macdonald, His Majesty's Minister at Peking, dated the

27th June, 1898, recommended that in view of the leasing to

Great Britain of the New Territories, "the right of the

Chinese Customs to maintain its office in Hong Kong where

it is now only unofficially acknowledged ought to be formally admitted and the status of the Commissioner of

Customs as a Chinese official recognized. The existing

substations at Changchow, Capsuimo on, Lai-chee-kok and

Fotochow ought to be maintained as at present, although they are in the leased territory. If it should be found that

other stations are required, they may be instituted". Upon these recommendations Major-General W. Black, then Officer

En 1989 Administering the Government, wrote in despatch No. 221 of

1898.

(Eadem Pun't

no66)

the 29th July, 1898, to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain strongly

urging that "the Chinese Customs be not formally accorded

the right to maintain its office in Hong Kong and that the

Commissioner of Customs be not recognized as a Chinese

Official, but that he remain as at present without official

status