CO129-517-2 Correspondence on proposed Chinese and Hong Kong agreements over Customs 13-11-1929 - 28-12-1929 — Page 90

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traffic to and from Hongkong, as it would enable me

to make arrangements by which Chinese goods transhipped

at Hongkong and conveyed thence by junk shall not, as

now, come under the new National Import Tariff.

I trust that Your Excellency will permit me to

hope that the Chinese Government's attitude in connexion

with Article V., as described above, will not close the

door to further discussion? In the general interests

of the Colony and of China, especially South China

it seems to me that a revision of the existing Maritime

Customs system in the so-called "Kowloon" District is

absolutely essential. And if we study the British

Government's attitude in the past, it is clear, I

believe, that there has always been a disposition on

their side to assist China to protect that part of her

Revenue which the existence of a British free-port

(Hongkong) at her front-door (Canton) seriously jeo-

pardises.

I ought to add that I am acquainting Mr.Osborne,

the "Kowloon" Commissioner, with the sense of this

letter.

Believe me,

Yours sincerely,

(3d.)

F. W. Maze.

P.5.

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