CO129-513-5 Coastal and river trade- prevention of smuggling and illicit trading 15-10-1928 - 14-12-1929 — Page 146

Copy

No. 1229 (26/63H)

(♬ A14/117/10)

Copy to Canton

Hongkong.

British Legation,

Peking.

15th Cotober, 1928.

144

evil to 22

on 82727/28

evil.ting

on 52727/28

enl. 450

On 52727/28

The Right Honourable

Lord Cushend un

eto..

etc..

My Lord,

On receipt of your despatches Nos. 383

(F 1886/117/10) of the 11th May and 395 (P 1886/117/10)

of the 15th lay on the subject of the abuse of the Britiah

flag in Chinese inland watere I sent copies of these two

documento to the doting British Consul General at Canton

in a despatch, copy of which was sent to the Foreign

Office in my despatch lio. 774 of the 12th July. In

calling for Mr. Brenan's observations on the points

raised, after consultation with the Hongkong authorities,

if necessary, I said that, subject to any comments which

he might have to make, I was inclined to think that there

was much force in the objections raised by the Admiralty,

but that it did not seem possible from the point of view

of equity, and the Hongkong Government could not reasonably

be expected to agree, to eliminate absolutely bona-

fide Hongkong British subjects, and that therefore the

only prectioable solution appeared to be to confine the

issue of certificatae to wall recommended bona-fide caser

only and once a certificate had been issued, to afford as

full protection as would be given to ships owned by white

British subjects.

2..

I have now received fr. Brenan's despatch No. 148

of the 13th September, copy of which was sent direct to the

FOREIGN OFFICE.

Foreign