CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 47

- 9 -

51

13.

Such being the situation of the Chinese

Maritime Customs in Hong Kong, we are now menaced by the

possible disintegration of that splendid service. The worst thing that might happen from our point of view would be the abolition of the Foreign Inspectorate, in a fit of folly, by the regional authority exercising actual control in Kuang- tung and the endeavour to place the Customs organization of

the province entirely in Chinese hands. In that event it would be impossible to tolerate the continued existence in Hong Kong of a Chinese Customs House or the residence in Hong Kong of a Chinese Commissioner of Customs. I welcome

the residence in Hong Kong of Colonel F. Hayley Bell, the

present Customs Commissioner, and I hold the view that the

residence in Hong Kong of his predecessors in office, all

of them British, was a distinct benefit to the trade of this

Colony with China. But the presence in Hong Kong of a

Chinese functionary in charge of the collection of Chinese

customs duties would be even more objectionable than the

appointment of a Chinese Consul for Hong Kong - a proposal which this Government has always strenuously, and in my

opinion rightly, opposed. (Please see the confidential blue

book respecting Proposed Appointment of a Chinese Consul

for Hong Kong). I need not enlarge upon the fact that such

a functionary would inevitably become the centre of anti-

British intrigue within the Colony and that he would, under

existing conditions, be a danger to the proper maintenance of

law and order.

14.

If, however, the regional authorities

exercising control in Kuang-tung are not so misguided as to

abolish the Foreign inspectorate, they may nevertheless

endeavour