CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929 — Page 61

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of the Hong Kong merchants), and has functioned there ever since, a fact which creates an invaluable precedent for the further extension of Chinese Customs activities within Hong Kong territory.

At this time (about 1911) the Hong Kong Government was engaged in establishing its Imports and Exports Office, in order to provide Revenue in place of that which was being forfeited by the cessation of the Opium trade, and at the request of the Hong Kong Government the Chinese Customs

dotached an Indoor officer to assist the British Colonial

Authorities in organising the now Office.. This co- operation paved the way for a suggested Customs Convention, which would in all likelihood have gone through at that timo had it not been for the political troubles caused by

the Revolution.

The Convention then suggested might well form the basis for renewed discussion, more particularly at this moment when China, to protect her Revenue interests, may be compelled to tighten very considerably the cordon

now existing around the Hong Kong territory and its waters. Such tightening might prove unwelcome to the Colony, and it can be obviated by the Colonial Authorities granting China reasonable right to exercise her Customs functions, both for the examination of cargo, collecting of duty, etc.,

within

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