CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929 — Page 53

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secret (2), of the 12th August, 1927. I, therefore, replied to Ir. Haze that I would be perfectly willing to enter into a discussion with him forthwith, but

that there were two preliminary points, on which I should need an assurance. The first concerned the

office of the Commissioner of Chinese Customs for

Kowloon and district. I reminded him that at the

present time the Chinese Customs officials in Hong Kong are to all intents and purposes under notice to quit; that they have not been formally accorded the right to maintain an office in this Colony; that the Commissioner of Customs for Kowloon and district is

not recognised here as a Chinese official, but that

he is without official status of any kind. In this connection, I refer you to paragraphs 2 to 12 of my

Enclosure No.5. despatch, secret (2), of the 12th August, 1927, and,

for convenience of reference, I attach a copy of these

paragraphs. I then pointed out that, in the draft

agreement of 1918, in Article 16, it was stipulated that

#

'during the duration of this agreement, the

Commissioner of Chinese Customs in Hong Kong shall

continue to be British". I pointed out, and Mr. Maze

admitted, that the Nanking Government was definitely embarked on a policy of sinification of its customs service, and I said that it would be quite impossible

for the Hong Kong Goverment to allow a Chinese

official to function in this Colony as Commissioner of

Chinese Maritime Customs. It would, therefore, be

necessary for me to stipulate in any draft agreement

now