CO129-510-7 Allegations of discrimination against United States companies in Hong Kong 22-3-1928 - 8-1-1929 — Page 15

15

Kh anything in the nature of a geanal tarift. There

~

import duties liquors & Tobacco.

are

A

103

HB.

G.G.

question of the tin dredges in the F.M.S. was

therefore decided rather on the peculiar circum-

stances of the case than on any question of the

principle of restrictions on importation. is not, therefore, a precedent which need

necessarily be followed.

It

The Board proceed to discuss further the

introduction of a protective tariff in H.K. They

seem to be strangely ignorant of the importance

absence which is generally attached to the size of

X

any tariff whatever in H.K. in the development

entrefor of the

e trade on which its existence

depends.

I do not think we should consider

the introduction of any Customs Dues whatever.

Certainly it would seem absurd to establish a

Customs Organisation merely for the purpose of imposing a protective tariff on motor omnibuses of foreign manufacture.

It seems clear that we shall not reach

any agreement with the Board of Trade, and I assume from Mr. Amery's minute of the 25th of September

that he is not disposed to compromise.

Further

correspondence with the Board of Trade, therefore,

seems to be a waste of time and we had better now

reply to the Foreign Office direct.

? send F.0. a copy of No.16, ref. No.13, saying that the S. of S. is unable to agree with

the contentions advanced therein, giving reasons

as above, and suggest that the reply to the United

States Embassy should consist in a recital of the

actual facts of the matter as given in the despatch

from the 0.A. G. of the 3rd of July (No.7) and an intimation

interim that H.M.G. in Gt. Britain sees no reason

to