Much has boon said and written about the audacious interference of the Chinese Customs authorities with the trade of Hongkong. One of the most glaring instances that hias recently ocourred la the following A'Enropean firm in this Colony some time 0 sold a certain quantity of gunpowdi in-kegs and cases to a Chinese hong, and gave a delivery order for 200 kegs and 100 cases of it on the 29th ultimo, together with an application in due form to the Harbour. Master to allow this quantity to be shipped under the Government Powder Regulations, on board the Chinese junk Kwok Fok Wo, registered number 503, for Macao. The port clearance was duly granted, and the junk sailed for hor destination, th consignees at Macao being notified of her departure. On the ortival of the junk at the Cap-sing-moon Pass, she was boarded by some Chinese Customs officials, who, on finding what the cargo consisted of, ordered her to return back to Hoi to discharge it, under throat that and cargo should be confiscated and crew sent to the mas properly ment, and it is to be hoped that de: will at once be taken to obtain justice.
that a Hongkong junk with a cargo for a neighbouring colony should be thas of There is not the shadow of a arrested on the passage by Chinese Customs jntificntion for Suis insolent proc sonnet be protended for a moment that junk had dutiable articles on board or i y infringing Chinese rights simply a deliberate attempt to i of this Colony. Tt has been gated that in blockading this port the Haikwau's officers are simply engaged in proteoting the revenue is generally considered, is a more subterfuge. At all events, that they are also engaged in other and utterly unjustifiable work is plainly proved by this case, the facts of which are, we believe, indisputable. Thisis, we imagine, only a typical case, Many more occur probably of which the public hear nothing. The trath is the existence of Hongkong aa a free foreign port ities, and there is no concealing the fact that the excellence of this port as an entrepot of trade,-with the protection for life and.property afforded by the Colony, has diverted and is still diverting a large amount of trade from Canton, Well knowing this, the mau-darins are doing all they possibly can to ple the native trade of, the port. It is high time, however, that their piratical doings should be pat a stop to, tha' the cordon established by them round' Hongkong should be broken up, aid: that the question chauid be settled at once and for all-time. We trust that this impudent act of molestation on a peaceable trader will servo to draw attention to the necessity for obtaining 'a cessation of the unlawful interference of the Haikwan's myrmidons: with legitimate trade, ' Nothiog would have a more beneficial effect than' the despatch of a gunboat to take summary' reprisals on the next offender. We have been trifled with far too long, and nothing short of the entire break up of the so-called Customs Stations in the Cap-sing-moon and other places surrounding the island will be o satisfactory solution of the question, Legitimate trade pays better than piracy, and in thus summarily disposing of these' pests to commerce we should not only relieve the colony from an incubus upon its trade but teach a salutary and profitable iessoa to the Chinese Government, 'A HONGKONG CRIMINAL,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.