CO129-540-2 Importation of American motor vehicles 1-4-1932 - 21-5-1932 — Page 2

Gov. Comf

1/4/32

2

It is single franchise.

intended to invite tenders for

in restart of all,

inquié

Meator Bus Leurres.

there is any objectin

the

whether

to the inclusion in

arr

exhers

Bubih

Conditions of tender Slification that only shall be employed.

tely whh

Requests reply by

The nistory of the Hong Kong motor-bus services down to March 1929 is given in No. 6 on 62769/29.

In No. 11 on 52835, the Board of Trade expressed the view that the restriction of motor licences for British vehicles by the Hong Kong Government imposed a prohibition on the import of foreign made motor- busses, and that prohibitions of this kind were con- trary to the provisions of the International Conven- tion for the Abolition of Import Prohibitions and Restrictions signed at Geneva in November 1927. The Hong Kong Government, however, decided (No. 96 on 50427/A/28/Gen.) not to adhere to the Convention, having been advised (in No. 16 on 5427/28) that the Secretary of State hesitated to recommend any Colonial Government to so bind itself.

The present policy of the Hong Kong Government regarding motor 'busses is set out in No. 4 on 72857/30, minimisay; regulations are in force whereby certain constructional details are insisted

which are usual in British but not in American

For this reason

upon,

busses, and because those operating the 'busses knew

(an

that the Government preferred the 'busses to be

British the field has up to now been kept open for

British 'busses only.

Sir S. Wilson fointed out in his minull 52835/28 the difficulty of defending

8 22.11.28

22.11.28 on

the restriction Hue

grant of

licences to

buses of British manufacture only.