CO129-517-2 Correspondence on proposed Chinese and Hong Kong agreements over Customs 13-11-1929 - 28-12-1929 — Page 63

Copy.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Shanghai Office of the

Inspectorate General of Customs,

21, Hart Road,

SHANGHAI.

21st October, 1929.

77

Dear Mr. Stephenson,

You are familiar with recent developments respecting

the proposed Anglo-Chinese Customs' Convention, and it is not necessary, therefore, for me to go over the ground

again. I considered it desirable, however, to acquaint

you by wire with the fact that both the Minister of

Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance informed me

to-day that they hoped the Agreement in its amended form

would satisfy Hongkong, and I have accordingly sent you

the following wire:-

"At interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs

"and Minister of Finance to-day hope was expressed

"that amended terms Agreements would satisfy Hongkong,

"thus obviate establishment stringent Customs Pre-

"ventive cordon in neighbourhood certain occasion con-

"stant misunderstanding friction irritation and pos-

"sible strangling of trade. Confidential: also inform

"Chinese Minister".

In a previous letter to you on the subject, dated

2nd August, I remarked that:

"Finally, it seems to me that unless Hongkong

"and China come to some sort of amicable understanding

"on questions of this nature, which intimately concern

J. W. Stephenson, Esquire,

LONDON.

both..