CO129-513-5 Coastal and river trade- prevention of smuggling and illicit trading 15-10-1928 - 14-12-1929 — Page 43

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country are used to cloak abuses such as the smuggling

of contraband.

7. I would accordingly propose that I should be authorised to notify the shipping companies with the formal approval of His Majesty's Government, that unless smuggling is effectively stopped (and it is for the companies and not for us to devise means) the principle of immunity will have to be definitely abandoned, and permission accorded to the officers of any authorised Chinese preventive organisation (and not solely to the Maritime Customs as hitherto) to board British vessels and search them for contra-

band.

I have the honour to be,

with the highest respect,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

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