CO129-542-12 Smuggling from Hong Kong into China 21-1-1933 - 21-8-1933 — Page 81

COPY.

CONFIDENTIAL.

SHANG AI OFFICE OF THE

INSPECTORATE GENERAL OF CUSTOMS,

21, Hart Road,

SHANGHAI. 9th February 1933.

81

Dear Sir Miles,

In view of the unsatisfactory conditions

now prevailing in the South in respect of the serious loss

which China's Revenue is entailing through organised smug-

gling, I recently visited Hong Kong and Canton, and before

leaving the Minister of Finance sent me the following com-

munication, dated Shanghai, 6th January, 1933:-

"Dear Sir Frederick,

#

In the course of your tour

"of inspection to the Southern Ports, I de-

"sire you to confer with His Excellency the

"Governor of Hongkong concerning the ques-

"tion of smuggling in the Colony. Hongkong,

"as you know, has become a sort of clearing-

"house for illicit trade, and China's revenue

"is suffering accordingly. The Government

"feel justified, therefore, in expecting the

"British authorities to adopt more effective

"measures within their own borders to curtail

"this growing menace to legitimate business,

"and to prevent the shipment of contraband to

"Chinese ports.

Yours sincerely,

# (SIGNED) T.V. SOONG, #

I called on Sir William Peel and pointed

To :

His Excellency,

/ out

Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O.,

etc., etc.,

etc.,

PEIPING.