CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930 — Page 97

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9.

other evasions of duty the Hoppo's personal

loss was probably much more. It thus became

evident, as was announced by Viceroy Jui-lin,

in a proclamation dated the 1st July, 1868,

that preventive stations were needed along the

short land-frontier in the Kowloon peninsular

and accordingly "offices for the levy of the

tax on opium" were established at Cap-sui-mun,

at Lyemun and in Kowloon, while the circumjacent

waters were patrolled by armed boats. The se

measures were most obnoxious to the merchants

of Hong Kong; and in July, 1868, a petition

was presented to Governor Sir R.G. MacDonnell

by 112 Hong Kong firms protesting against this

"direct and high-handed attack upon the

commerce of the island" and stating that the

effect was "as though we were at war with

China and the port blockaded".

Thenceforward

this episode was known as "the blockade of

Hong Kong." It lasted many years and was very

detrimental to trade.

6.

In general the Hoppo's right to take

those preventive measures was admitted both by

the British Legation at Peking and by the

British Foreign Office. But whatever the

abstract right in the matter, a Chinese

administration is always attended by abuses,

from intention or laxity of procedure and these

forced themselves upon on the notice of the

Hong Kong community and intensified the objection

to. •