Revival of Proposal to Check Smuggling Canton, Sept. 4.
Rumours that Chinese customs Jstations may be established in Hongkong to check the extensive smuggling between the Colony and Canton, to. which the continues sharp decline of the customs revenues here is attributed, have been revived.
The possibility of the scheme materializing is believed to have fereased with the arrival of Mr. Shing-yi, who has been sent here by ithe Ministry of Finance to investigate the "extent of smuggling in South China.
Cusioms revenues in Canton have suffered a steady decline in recent [years and Nanking is unquestionably much perturbed over the situation. The revenue here during the St Jseven months of this year has de-Jelined to about one half of the figure for the corresponding period in 1931. This heavy drop is not due so much the business slump 3s to smug-ling which is dificult to prevent Under present conditions.
'BY establishing customs stations in Hongkong, payment of duties will be made there, and, in the opinion of Chinese circles, it will be easier to) check smuggling at the British felony. While the present attitude Jat the Hongkong Government is not known, there is stated to have been Ino objection when the Finance Ministry made this proposal three years Jago. However, General Chen Ming-Janu, then chairman of the Kuangtung provincial government, blocked the move which eventually fell through.
"Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.