.FIDENTIAL.
101
23rd September, 1929.
Dear Sir Cecil Clementi,
In continuation of my letter of the 8th ultimo, relating to the proposed Anglo-Chinese Customs' Con- vention, I must now inform you that my anticipations that the Chinese Authorities would probably object to Article V. (Inland Waters) have unfortunately proved
correct.
A conference was recently held in Nanking to dis- cuss the question, at which Mr. C. T. Wang, Mr. T. V. Soong, General Ch'ên Ming-shu (of Canton) and Mr.F.Y. Chang (Customs' Board) were present, and while they unanimously agreed that the general terms of the instrument were entirely acceptable, and paid a tri- bute to the friendly attitude of Hongkong, the opinion was expressed, nevertheless, that it would be inconsis- tent for the Government to depart officially from their declared policy of ultimately withdrawing from foreign shipping the privilege of participating in the Coastal trade of China, by formally extending to Hongkong foreign-flag vessels the right to direct Inland Waters trade. In other words, political considerations and Chinese public opinion render it inopportune for the Government at this stage, and in view of the somewhat uncertain political situation again prevailing, to concede a special privilege to
Hongkong....
To
His Excellency
Sir Cecil Clementi,K.C.M. G.
etc.
etc.,
HONGKONG.
etc..
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