CO129-531-15 Chinese customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 9-7-1931 - 17-1-1932 — Page 17

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SECRET.

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Aned (36)

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32

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG, 2nd October, 1931.

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to correspondence

on the subject of the proposed Customs Agreement with China resting with Lord Passfield's secret despatch of

the 24th of June, 1931.

2.

In my secret telegram No.129 of the 10th of

July I referred to two amendments which had been

proposed by the representative of the Inspector

General of Customs. These consisted of the omission

of the words "Such goods shall also be re-admitted into

China free of coast trade duty if coast trade duty is

hereafter abolished" in Article XVI (c), and the

omission of the last sentence in Article XVI (d).

3. The first of these omissions appears to me to be necessary and I am of the opinion that the second

will not seriously affect this Colony; but I shall be

glad to know if you concur in this view in order that

any delay for further reference of these points may be

avoided when the time comes for further steps to be

taken.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

J. H. THOMAS, M.F.,

&C.,

&C.,

&c.

4.