CO129-558-11 Mission of Sir F. Leith-Ross to China- proposals for a Hong Kong - China customs... 29-9-1936 - 30-12-1936 — Page 79

C. O.

a Chinese Maritime Customs branch in

79

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Sir C. Parkinson.

Sir G. Tomlinson.

Sir C. Bottomley.

Sir J. Shuckburgh.

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Secretary of State.

DRAFT.

Hong Kong might do much to mitigate the

evils of smuggling into South China,

which prejudiced alike the interests

of the respectable British and Chinese

traders and the possibility of harmonious

relations between Hong Kong and the

Chinese authorities both Central and

Provincial.

FURTHER ACTION.

An alternative draft was

prepared by Hong Kong, which avoided

reference to supervision by the Chinese

Maritime Customs, and His Majesty's

Ambassador was informed that should the

question of the establishment of the

latter in Hong Kong be raised by the

Chinese Government, it would be

preferable that the Article should be

dropped altogether.

These negotiations eventually

lapsed, the Chinese producing a counter-

draft which implied throughout a

settlement