CO129-521-14 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 31-10-1930 - 10-1-1931 — Page 41

Shanghai office of the Inspectorate General of Customs

21, Hart Road,

SHANGHAI 14th October 1930.

42

Dear Sir Miles,

In continuation of my letter of the 27th September, for-

warding an amended draft of the proposed Hongkong Agreement, I now

send you another draft of the same instrument slightly modified at

the desire of the Chinese Authorities. In order to facilitate ref-

erence I have caused the alterations to be underlined in red, and

it will be observed that no question of principle is involved. I

trust, therefore, that the British Authorities will be prepared to

meet the Chinese suggestion in a favourable spirit? I may inform

you that I had a long interview with Mr. T.V.30ong and Mr. F.Y.XEEK

Chang (Director General, Custons Board) last night, and the former

stated that he hoped to be able to induce the Government to pass the

Agreement as thus amended; and, on this understanding, he requested

me to proceed to Hongkong forthwith and try to bring the matter to a

satisfactory conclusion. It will be most unfortunate if the Hong-

kong Government raise further contentious issues: I have met their

wishes to the fullest possible extent, and I question if we can go

any further we have reached finality!

I suggest, finally, that if your Excellency concurs with

me that the amendments now submitted are not inimical to Hongkong's

interests, that you will be good enough to telegraph your approval

to Sir William Peel? I recognise, with grateful thanks, that your

recent support of the previous draft (forwarded in my letter of the

27th September) has proved most useful, and I hope that you will

also find the amendments acceptable?

I intend to leave for Hongkong in the "Empress of Canada"

on the 20th instant.

is Excellency

Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson,

K.C.M.G.,C.B.,.V.O.,

Lite. etc. etc.,

PEPING.

Yours sincerely,

(SIGNED) P.w.MAZE.

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