CO129-517-2 Correspondence on proposed Chinese and Hong Kong agreements over Customs 13-11-1929 - 28-12-1929 — Page 105

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, at the address given opposite.

The following letter and number should be quoted :-

C.R.T. 3021/29.

Telegraphic Address : COLASTA, PARL, LONDON.

Telephone No.: 3840 Victoria.

20

Sir,

30119

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND TREATIES

DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF TRADE,

GREAT GEORGE STREET,

LONDON, S.W.1.

13th November, 1929.

1. (19)

In reply to your letter of the 24th October, No.62847/29,

respecting the proposed agreement between the Government of

Hong Kong and the Chinese Maritime Customs for the safe-

guarding of the Customs Revenue of China, and for securing reciprocal benefits of trade and commerce, I am directed by

the Board of Trade to state, for Lord Passfield's information,

that they are in principle entirely in favour of the con-

clusion of such an agreement. They note, however, from the

Foreign Office letter of the 18th October addressed to your

Department, that the Chinese Government have asked for a

modification of Article 5 of the agreement, to the extent

of limiting the proposed inland waters privileges to Hong

Kong and chinese-flag vessels. Such a limitation of the

privileges to be accorded by this article to Chinese vessels

may at first sight appear to involve the question of the Treaty obligations which have been undertaken by Hong Kong in connection with the treatment of foreign shipping within

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.