CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930 — Page 498

2.

535

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As regards your second question only Hongkong

authorities and their experts can say extent to which a

solution on lines of original draft will be beneficial to

the Colony and I am not prepared to attempt a reply.

I

have never liked idea of assimilating status of Hongkong

to that of a Chinese treaty port for fear of promoting

or facilitating Chinese irridentist aspirations and on this

account I should prefer some other solution of smuggling

problem. But if gain of securing a settlement is com-

mensurate with this inherent risk (which I regard as crux

of whole question and on which again Hongkong authorities

are in a better position that I am to express opinion)

then let us take it.

As regards your third question I adhere to view

that Article V was and remains a mistake and should be

dropped. Generally speaking I am not at present unduly

alarmed at prospect of failure to arrive at settlement

though I should naturally much prefer that one should be

reached. In the meantime possibility of finding an

alternative solution is being explored.

Finally I greatly deprecate being in any way "rushed"

into action by the somewhat peculiar and unpleasant

methods of Mr. (Maze) it is just as much to China's

interest as ours to come to some workable agreement.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 542, repeated to

Hongkong and Mr. Ingram.