CO129-522-4 China inland water- river and coastal trade- smuggling by British ships 12-12-1929 - 24-3-1930 — Page 26

COPY

Enclosure No.2.

26

Hong Kong 7th January, 1930.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Jardine Mathieson & Co.Ltd.,

Sir,

In reply to your communication of the 11th ulto. asking me

for my opinion as to the possibility of taking s teps to reduce the

evil of smuggling on British ships in Chinese Territory to such a

degree as to justify insistance upon the inmu ity now enjoyed by

British ships from search except at the hands of the Maritime

Customs I have the honour to report as follows:-

1.

نه

3.

4.

Although your communication implies that s earch of British

vessels is only carried on by the Chinese Maritime

Customs this, I regret to say, is not correct.

Vessels are searched by Opium Suppression Societies by Salt Prevention Societies and by various other tax

collecting self appointed bodies with the full cognizance

of H.M.Consuls and the Chinese Mari time Customs. Opium is frequently forced on to British vessels by armed

Chinese guards and when the attention of the Chinese Maritime Customs Officer on duty on the ship at the port

of embarkation of such opium is called to the fact that

it is coming on board, and that it is his duty to prevent it, he (the officer) invariably disappears, and when the higher officials of the Chinese Maritime Customs are appealed to they respond by saying they are not a preventative service but a revenue collecting department

of the Chinese Government.

This question was very fully dealt with in a despatch from my Shanghai Office to Mr.Garstin, Consul General

Shanghai, dated February 9th,1929, of which a copy is

enclosed for your information.

I have the honour to be,

The Hon. Mr.W..Southorn.

Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sgd) B. D. F. BEITH.

HONG KONG.