CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930 — Page 85

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PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretar;

of State for the Colonies.

Dated 8th May,

1930.

8th May,

1930)

(Received Colonial Office 6.45 p.m.

Addressed to H.M.Minister, Shanghai, No. 7 May 7th.

Repeated to the Secretary of State for the Colonies No. 28. Copy

to Canton. Begine. Urgent. I received to-day your telegram 47

of 7th May. I await Maze's further comments. Last night and

this morning statenent by Kuo Min (semiofficial) News Agency in

Nanking appeared in local Press giving very unfair account of

position regarding Custons Agreement negotisions and endeavouring

to throw blame for failure to ratify Agreement on HongKong:

saying that Maze has been instructed to proceed to Hong Kong to

endeavour to arrange ratificisation; also containing threat that

if it is found impossible to arrive at mutual understanding

Chinese Customs Authorities will be reluctantly compelled to

strengthen preventive measures round the Colony.

also

This is obviously done for propaganda purposes and should

not pass unchallenged. I propose to counter by authorising

issue of reply by local Press on following lines. (1) HongKong is

very anxious to as-ist China in prevention of smuggling and is

prepared to go a long way to help her but is not prepared to give

up sovereign rights without some benefit in return.

(2) No proof has yet been given of extensive smuggling from

Hong Kong

મ

(3) Chinese Government alleging that smuggling is inevitable

asked for such concession from Hong Kong as are conceded in no

other place in the British Empire.

(4) Mr. Maze came to Hory; Kong and asked for a Customs Agreement

and a draft Agreement was prepared in consultation between Hong Kong

Government