CO129-517-2 Correspondence on proposed Chinese and Hong Kong agreements over Customs 13-11-1929 - 28-12-1929 — Page 25

NO SECRET

Copy to:-

Peking. No. 61.

Canton. No. 174.

50

25

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG 20th November, 1929.

My Lord,

In continuation of the tenth paragraph of my secret despatch, dated the 1st August, 1929, on the subject of the proposed customs agreement

between Hong Kong and China, 1 have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the draft of this agreement

was considered clause by clause in the Executive

Council on the 8th August 1929. The general principle

of the agreement was then accepted by the Executive

Council, and it was decided that the draft should be

forwarded confidentially to the Hong Kong General

Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Branch of the

China Association and to representative Chinese

merchants for their consideration. The draft was

not sent to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, as it

was feared that such a course could not be adopted

without premature disclosure of the negotiations.

The draft was, however, translated into Chinese, and

a Committee was formed, consisting of the Honourable

Sir Shou-son Chow, (Chairman), the Honourable Dr.R.H.

Kotewall,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD PASSFIELD,

2tc.,

&c.,

&c.