CO129-514-7 Alleged discrimination against U.S. interests in Hong Kong 17-1-1929 - 7-12-1929 — Page 19

Copy.

(A 7322/100/45).

My dear Thompson,

19

Embassy of the

United States of America,

London.

November 1st, 1929.

With reference to the conversation which we had a few

days ago, I am writing informally to tell you that our

Consul General in Hong Kong has reported to the Department

of State and to the Embassy that, in spite of the statement

contained in an official note from the Foreign Office to

this Embassy to the effect that "There is no discrimination

by law or regulation against American omnibuses in Hong Kong,

nor is any restriction incorporated in the licences issued

omnibus proprietors", the fact remains that American

manufacturers of motor buses are unable to do any business

in Hong Kong.

A representative of the Consulate General visited

various concerns operating bus services on the Island of Hong

Kong and in each case the answer was substantially the same:

that while there was nothing written in the nature of government

ordinances or regulations prohibiting the use of American

buses, yet for one reason or another the police have refused

on technical points to issue permits for the operation of

such buses. These technical excuses include such as,

"The buses are too heavy for the roads of the colony" and

"The wheelbase is too long and does not conform to Hong Kong

specifications". Yet at the same time buses of British

manufacture with much longer wheel bases are being used.

G.H. Thompson, Esquire,

The Consulate reports that it is generally understood

in

The Foreign Office,

S.W.1.