CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930 — Page 402

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Smuggling by junks and motor boats, as explained above, forms the main field of operations, but it has also increased considerably on steamers by means of:-

(2)

3

(4)

Unmanifested cargo

Smugglers working through ships' staff or passengers travelling to and fro for that purpose.

Passengers' baggage.

Dropping of packages overside into boats.

The Customs have been tightening up general procedure all round in regard to steamers, such as at Canton where the River Boats have to close all their cargo ports on arriving within harbour limits and keep them shut until after arrival alongside wharves, to which no one is allowed admittance except Customs officers who examine passengers and their baggage on dis- embarkation. These measures however have but a limited effect, as what may be got away with on regular steamers is only a fraction of what actual- ly finds its way into China by means of the junks and motor craft, above mentioned.

Salt is a monopoly of the Government of China and trading in it, except under Government control, is illegal: we know that much of this commodity is smuggled from Hong Kong into China, but there are no pro- hibitions so far as we are aware in regard to its handling in this Colony.

We are, Sir,

(Sgd.)

Yours faithfully,

Butterfield & Swire,

Agents, China Navigation Co.Ltd.

JT:IB.

The Superintendent,

Imports & Exports Dept.,

Hong Kong.