CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930 — Page 223

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Dillo

Government to conclude and which, if concluded

in its present form, would facilitate trade and

commerce between Hong Kong and the Liang Kwang

provinces, as well as assist in the maintenance

of real friendship between this Colony and

Canton. I should, therefore, be glad to learn

by telegram whether Your Lordship approves of this

agreement as now reprinted and, if so, whether

I am authorised to send the reprint to Mr. Maze,

in order that he may place it before the Nanking

Government with an intimation that, if the

Chinese Government wishes to obtain the privileges

now sought for the Chinese Maritime Customs, it

must agree to concede the privileges hereby

sought for the trade of Hong Kong".

Mr. Moss, in a report to His Majesty's Mini ster

# on these di scussions (Canton despatch to Peiping No.

173 of 25th November), stated that it was clear that

the British and Chinesemerchants, while genuinely

anxious to arrive at an agreement which would obviate

the chances of friction with the Chinese Maritime

Customs, were strongly opposed to the grant of the

extraordinary privileges asked for by them unless a

substantial quid pro quo, such as that provided for

in Article V could be obtained by way of compensation.

}

A suggestion which hadbeen made by Sir

Miles Lamp son, that it might be preferable if the

proposed Customs Agreement could be concluded without

any reference being made to the navigation of Chinese

territorial watersby Hong Kong steamers, was considered,

but failed to obtain the support of the mercantile

interests