CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930 — Page 149

Enclosure in Shanghai despatch No.347 to H.M.Minister, Peiping.

28th December, 1929.

148

COPY

BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

and

CHINA ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE, SHANGHAI.

17th The Bund

Shanghai C.1.

December 21st, 1929.

Sir:

The final draft of the Hong Kong-China

trade and Customs Agreement has been discussed

at two meetings of the Joint Committee of the

British Chamber of Commerce and China Associa-

tion, and in accordance with the request of

H.M.Minister communicated to the Committee by

you, I now have pleasure in giving you the views

of the Committee.

The Committee, with the exception of

Mr. Brown of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire and

Mr. Peel of Messrs. Dodwell & Co., who desired

that their dissent should be noted, were

unanimously of opinion:

1. That there would be no reaction detri- mental to general British interests in China should China refuse to accept the Hong Kong-China Trade and Customs Agree ment as now drafted and should Hong Kong refuse to make any fundamental modifica. tion in the present draft.

2.

C.F.Garstin Esq., C.B.E., H.B. M. Consul-General, SHANGHAI

That modification of Clause 5 as suggested by China (namely, to exclude all but vessels flying the Chinese flag from trading from Hong Kong to non-open

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