CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929 — Page 146

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protected than the vessels now in commission, in order to

enable us to cope successfully with the elaborate smuggling

organisation now developing in Kowloon and Lappa waters. And

the Government, of course, should officially authorise the

Customs' Officers concerned to use force where force is

opposed against us and, if necessary, open fire on junks

refusing to stop for search, eto. If desirable, the Inspec-

tor General will visit Hongkong and Macao in connection with

elaborating plans for the development and improvement of the

local Launch Service; but the question of the land Front le ri

presents much greater difficulty, and should be dealt with

specially as outlined below. The question of the Launch

Service, however, is less difficult than the Frontier guard

question, and it is impossible for the Inspector General to

submit now definite proposals until further investigation

indicates more clearly the lines on which development should

finally progress. As the Director-General is aware,

Customs' Administration had many arrangements to make in

connection with the introduction of the new Tariff last

Spring, and while it was early recognised, of course, that

the Customs' Preventive Service must be completely re-

organised, other Tariff questions were still more pressing

and had to be dealt with first, and it was not possible,

therefore, for the Inspector General to attend to every-

thing at the beginning!

The Inspector General now suggests that the whole

question should be taken up and not dealt with "piece-meal",

and that he should detach a Commissioner to personally visit

the