176
Before the public meeting could be held, the Home Government changed its mind about the appointment.
THE DAY AN ADMIRAL TRIED TO STEAL THE SHOW
In an attempt to solve the blockade question, Sir Brooke Robertson, the British Consul at Canton, suggested in 1878 that a European be appointed as Chinese Consul in Hongkong. He could check on cargoes of junks and make reports to the Customs authorities in Canton.
In this way the Chinese could exercise better control over the collection of duties on goods shipped in and out of Hongkong on Chinese vessels. Presumably he would not be prone to engage in all the irregularities allegedly practised by all Chinese officials.
Hongkong, however, resisted such an appointment and the matter was dropped at that time.
The Opium Agreement between Britain and China signed in September 1886, provided for a Chinese Maritime Customs collecting station at Kowloon. The Hongkong Government unofficially condoned the residence of its Commissioner, a British national, in Hongkong.
In view of this arrangement and the easing of the tensions created by the Chinese blockade of Hongkong, the appointment of a Chinese Consul for Hongkong continued to lay dormant.
In 1891, however, the Colonial Office suddenly informed Hongkong that a Chinese Consul had been appointed for the port. There was an immediate outcry of indignation. The opposition hauled out the same arguments they had used against any arrangement with China that would have assisted it in collecting customs duties.
In an editorial comment, the China Mail stated that the arrangement made with China for the Imperial Customs to collect its duties directly had been mutually beneficial, for "smuggling had been discouraged and legitimate trade promoted, and the Col-
176
Before the public meeting could he held, the Home Govern- ment changed its mind about the appointment.
THE DAY AN ADMIRAL TRIED TO STEAL THE SHOW
In an attempt to solve the blockade question, Sir Brooke Robertertson, the British Consul at Canton, suggested in 1878 that a European be appointed as Chinese Consul in Hongkong. He could check on cargoes of junks and make reports to the Customs authorities in Canton.
In this way the Chinese could exercise better control over the collection of duties on goods shipped in and out of Hongkong on Chinese vessels. Presumably he would not be prone to engage in all the irregularities allegedly practised by all Chinese officials.
Hongkong, however, resisted such an appointment and the matter was dropped at that time.
The Opium Agreement between Britain and China signed in September 1886, provided for a Chinese Maritime Customs col- lecting station at Kowloon. The Hongkong Government unoffi- cially condoned the residence of its Commissioner, a British na- tional, in Hongkong.
In view of this arrangement and the easing of the tensions creat- ed by the Chinese blockade of Hongkong, the appointment of a Chinese Consul for Hongkong continued to lay dormant.
In 1891, however, the Colonial Office suddenly informed Hongkong that a Chinese Consul had been appointed for the port. There was an immediate outcry of indignation. The opposition hauled out the same arguments they had used against any arrange- ment with China that would have assisted it in collecting customs duties.
In an editorial comment, the China Mail stated that the ar- rangement made with China for the Imperial Customs to collect its duties directly had been mutually beneficial, for "smuggling had been discouraged and legitimate trade promoted, and the Col-
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