CO129-566-3 Canton-Kowloon Railway 4-4-1938 - 20-1-1939 — Page 59

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

18

RECEIVED

CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

1 € AUG 1938

O. O. REGY

Dated 15th August, 1938.

No.231.

Received 6.30 a.m.,

15th August.

Addressed to Becretary of State for the Colonies telegram No.231 15th August repeated to Shanghai telegram No.124 Canton saving telegram ko. 22.

Kuangtung Provincial Government have requested permission to establish at Kowloon railway terminus office for collection of transit tax imposed on goods passing through the Province.

While desirous not to stand in the

way of the Chinese Government in obtaining revenue there appear to be two objections to the suggestion firstly that such action might be inconsistent with neutrality secondly that undesirable precedent would be established. regards the latter point collection of Chinese Customs here

on the other hand action is not altogether parallel:

As

taken in emergency need not be accepted subsequently as

precedent.

I should be grateful for guidance by telegram.