CO129-585-9 Sino-Japanese conflict- Chinese custom stations 14-7-1940 - 17-12-1940 — Page 39

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

53838/56/+

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be

kept under Lock and Key.] With

3527/1/10)

e Co

of 1!

23

39

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.

Cypher telegram to Sir A. Clark Kerr (Shanghai)

Foreign Office,

No. 916.

RECEIVED

SEP 1940

1st September, 1930. 2.15 a.m.

*VVVVV

12,Your telegram No.648 [of July 30th: Kowloon Customs).

12

The British authorities are not responsible for the internal administration of the Kowloon office of the Chinese Customs, whose functions are, I understand, to supervise Customs work in adjacent Chinese territory. In so far as the latter is under Japanese occupation, the demand that the Customs Administration shall conform to the procedure in other occupied areas is comprehensible.

2.

It is a matter for arrangement between the Japanese authorities and the Inspector-General and we cannot usefully intervene at the present time. We should however have strong objection to the appointment of a Japanese Commissioner at Hong Kong.

3. A solution recommended by the Colonial Office is that the Kowloon Customs station should be closed at least for the duration of the hostilities. I am informed that its functions are much reduced in importance and that it is an increasing embarrassment to the Hong Kong authorities.

4. If you see no objection you should urge this view upon Sir F. laze and suggest that the Customs stations in the surrounding country should come under the Commissioner at Canton.