207
by Chinese firms who wished to be able to engage in the
island
traffic under protection of the British flag.
(trε
Sir J. Pratt produced a document showing that an
overwhelming proportion of ships registered under the
Inland Water Regulations at Canton was Chinese. If.
therefore, participation in the inlanu traue was opened
to Hong Kong British ships, it would mean that a large
number of Chinese vessels would be transferred to the
British flag and we should find ourselves in the unpleasant position of protecting these in Chinese waters.
A possibility of further complications lay in the
fact that under most favoured nation treaty provisions claim an equal right
Japanese vessels would
to participate in the trade. On the other hand, it
was feared that the limitation of the proposed
privilege to Chinese flag vessels only, as suggested
by the Chinese authorities, might prejudice our general
negotiations with China regarding navigation rights
in connection with the draft Commercial Treaty.
Mr. Overton stated that the Board of Trade regarded
the preservation of general coastal e naviga-
tion rights for British ships as of more importance
than the interests of the local trade around Hong Kong.
It was pointed out that His Majesty's Minister has been
informed that His Majesty's Government attach greater
importance to coastal traffic (for which, indeed, Chinese tonnage was not available, and if necessary to retain it,
a,if
would let inland water traue go. Sir J. Fratt recalle
also that
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.