CO129-540-13 Proposal by Chinese Government to establish vice-consulate in Hong Kong 6-6-1932 - 30-12-1932 — Page 94

10

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No. F 6607/5423/10

and address-

not to any person by name,

but to-

+4

The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

IMMEDIATE.

London, S.W.1.

Sir,

r

RECEIVED 10SEP 1932 COL. OFFICE

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W.1.

9th September, 1932.

I am directed by Secretary Sir John Simon to

95

refer to Foreign Office letters Nos. F 6422/5423/10 of

copgenel mig on 92675) the 2nd instant and F 647775423/10 of the 3rd instant

regarding the Chinese Government's proposal to establish

a Chinese Vice-Consulate at Hongkong in connexion with the

new Chinese regulations for the introduction of a system

of consular invoices.

2.

The First Secretary of the Chinese Legation

called at the Foreign Office on September 8th and stated

that the Chinese Government could not accept the

suggestion of His Majesty's Government in the United

Kingdom that the Commissioner of Customs at Hongkong should

issue these invoices, as this would not be possible under

the regulations of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service.

Since His Majesty's Government had objections to the

appointment of a Chinese consular official at Hongkong, he

was instructed to propose the appointment by the Chinese

Government of a special delegate to deal with the work

connected with consular invoices. It was gathered that

no importance attached to the title by which this delegate

should be known.

3.

It was pointed out in reply that it would be

necessary to consult the Government of Hongkong in this

matter, which might well turn on details and on the

personality of any "delegate" who might be appointed.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

In