CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930 — Page 250

Condos.

no: 2

25:

Copy.

(F 113/37/10)

CHINA ASSOCIATION.

99, Cannon Street,

London, E. C. 4.

3rd January, 1930.

Sir,

HONGKONG CHINA TRADE AND CUSTOMS AGREEMENT

I have the honour to refer you to the attached exchange

of telegrams with the Association's branch in Hongkong, which have passed since Sir John Fratt handed me a copy of the above

Agreement in its original form for the consideration of my

Committee.

I understand that H.E. The Governor of Hongkong has sub-

mitted an amendment of this Agreement for the approval of the

Colonial Office, setting out the terms on which the Hongkong

Government is willing to negotiate with the Chinese Government,

and that the retention of Clause 5, including the British

Flag, is a sine qua non.

[1

This understanding, however, would seem to conflict with

the paragraph in the Association's cable from Hongkong which

alludes to the willingness of the Hongkong Government to put

forward "Constructive proposal s on different lines should the

present agreement prove unacceptable to the Chinese Government.

As I think you are aware from the many conversations I

have had on the subject with Sir John Pratt, my Committee

regards the satisfactory solution of this question as of vital

importance to British interests generally in the Far East, and

respectfully expresses its great regret that up to the present

H.M. Under Secretary of State

for Foreign Affairs,

Downing Street,

the

S.W.

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