CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 79

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It has, perhaps, yet to be recognized

how sweeping the reorganization and the change of

procedure necessary to the present Customs, or to

such other administrations as may take its place,

to permit it to deal with this and other problems

that arise out of the present situation. This

question, though apparently not coming under the

questions I have endeavoured to discuss, is in

reality inseparable from that of the prosperity of foreign trade in China or Hong Kong. At present

something of paralysis has touched the administration

of Customs as well as trade itself. All are

waiting.

The one assurance the future seems

to hold is that there will be no decrease in the

taxation and no statesmanlike move on the part of

China's rulers to make trade easier even for their

own nationals; to make the road ahead plainer, although such higher duties are necessary to them. In the mean time many must suffer; but in the

end there can be no doubt but that trade will

win.

sd. F. Hayley Bell.

Hong Kong, 15th July, 1927.