CO129-531-15 Chinese customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 9-7-1931 - 17-1-1932 — Page 82

if Maze does not wish to insert them. I

suggest the addition of the words "or deposited" in

Article 22, as more comprehensive.

89

I have explained in my telegram my objection to the

particular clause relating to the precedence of the

Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. I am quite ready

to grant them both official recognition, but actual

precedence must, I think, be confined to the Head of the

Department here, as is usual in the case of Consular

staff. I feel that it is quite out of place to provide

for such a matter in the agreement, and as Wright agreed

that it should be embodied in an exchange of notes, I

should very much like to see it dealt with in that way.

As stated in my telegram, Clementi sent home about the

end of last year a new precedence list, to which a reply

has not yet been received. He recommended, however,

that Consular representatives should not be included in

the list, but should be granted such precedence as the

Governor might decide, having regard to the circumstances

of the case. As he used the term "Consular representat-

ives", I hold that this excludes Vice Consuls unless they

are in charge. In view of these definite proposals, it

would be impossible in any event to talk of Consular

precedence for the Commissioner, or to provide any definite

precedence for the Deputy Commissioner.

Moreover, I

think it would be very unwise to refer to Consular status

or precedence, in view of Chinese feeling regarding a

Consul for Hong Kong. I am anxious, however, to meet

Maze and have made the suggestion set out in my wire,

that/