CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930 — Page 224

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14.

Goodman, the acting Colonial Secretary, to

Mr. J.H. MOLeary Brown, Commissioner of

Customs for Kowloon and District, asking him

to fix an early date for the removal of the

Customs establishment to Chinese Kowloon.

.

On the 24th March, 1892, Mr. MoLeary Brown

replied by direction of Sir R. Hart that "we

can move our office out of Hong Kong forthwith

and shall withdraw completely as soon as resid-

ences are ready on the Chinese mainland and

Chinese bank established there by the Hoppo

of Canton for the receipt of the dues and

duties we now deposit in the Hong Kong and

Shanghai Bank”. The Colonial Secretary,

Mr. G.T.M. O'Brien, acknowledged this letter

on the 4th April, 1892, and the matter again

fell into abeyance.

12.

Nothing further was done until the

Convention leasing the New Territories to

Great Britain was signed on the 9th June, 1898.

Then on the 18th July, 1898, the Hong Kong

Chamber of Commerce telegraphed to the

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as

follows:- "Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce

strenuously urges Government insist absolute

freedom from Chinese Customs and Jurisdiction whole

Kowloon extension territory, including city.

Anything less renders situation most

unsatisfactory leading to endless complications"

Subsequently on the 1st September, 1898, the

Chamber