CO129-540-13 Proposal by Chinese Government to establish vice-consulate in Hong Kong 6-6-1932 - 30-12-1932 — Page 113

114

Original on 92675/32

4b

rem from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong

Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies

Dated 19 August 1932. Received 3.55 a.n. 19 August 1932,

Par tam via M

Addi essed to Secretary of State for the Colonies No.173 repeated

to Peking Mission oopy to Canton and Shanghai for Commercial

Confidential. Your telegram No.101 Consular

Counsellor.

Invoices.

Proposed

new system will be irksome and detrimen-

tal to trade generally but if it is admitted we cannot object in

principle to system of Consular Invoices and

chief objection

ability is small number of Chinese

This

in the matter of work

Consuls there should not be much difficulty in Hong Kong where

there is already Commissioner of Chinese Customs.

officer could perform probably much more efficiently all the

duties which would fall on a Consul under Consular Invoice

regulations. Article 15 rules promulgated on June 25th 1932

copy of which I have received from Charge d'Affaires Peking

seems to offer opportunity for pressing this suggestion.

Commissioner of Customs himself officialof Chinese Government

though not expressly mentioned in Article 15 would be much

better substitute for Congul than Chinese Chamber of Commerce

or a Consul other nationality as there suggested.

If Foreign Office suggestion for six months delay in

introduction is refused by Chinese Government I would urge

Chinese Government be pressed to accept Commissioner of Chinese Customs as its representa tive Hong Kong for issue of Consular

Invoices.

This proposal was unandovaly approved

approved by Executive Council August 18th.

Question of Chinese Vice Consul Hong Kong will subject of separate telegram.

form