72751/30.
PARAPHRASE TALAGRAN from the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong.
(Sent 9.30 p.m., 2nd May, 1930).
No.10. Secret.
Following telegram addressed by Foreign Office to His Lajety's Minister on 29th April Begins: No.9. Your telegram of April 22nd No.121 Hong Kong China Customs Agreement. I agree to discussion between you and liaze as you propose instead of communication being sent to him by Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong.
It seems dangerous to have no communication with him meanwhile as it is i portent that he should be kept content not to take any drastic action pending a final decision.
For acting Gov rnor of Hong Kong's view about prevalence of smuggling see his telegram of 14th April to Colonial Office. Important question appears to Colonial Office and to me to be whether smuggling is considered by Chinese Maritime Customs to be on a sufficient scale to warrant organisation of measures again t Hong Kon traffic in order to protect revenue. It would seem from earlier experience of Customs "blockade" of Hong Kong that if they do the Colonial Government would find it worth while to come to an agreement to void consequent lo.s to legitimate trade, and possibly even organised boycott or other form of political disturbance by which British relations with China in general would be adversely
affected.
Whether
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