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 83

C. O.

83

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.

the general policy of withdrawing the

rights of foreign ships to trade in

Chinese inland waters.

They were

willing, however, to concede the right

in respect of Hong Kong vessels which

flew the Chinese flag.

Acceptance of

this modification was pressed by His

DRAFT.

Majesty's Ambassador and met with the

FURTHER ACTION.

approval of the Foreign Office and of

the Board of Trade; but was uncom-

promisingly rejected by the Governor,

Sir Cecil Clementi, who would offer at

most that the operation of the Clause

as originally drafted should be limited

to Kwangtung and Kwangsa, two neighbourin

South China Provinces. A new draft

was prepared in Hong Kong, Article X of

which would secure Chinese national

treatment for goods of any description

manufactured in Hong Kong. This Article

in turn did not meet with the approval

of the Chinese Government; and after

further