Canton, May 4.
With the re-opening of the Pearl River to foreign trade, under certain restrictions, the Customs House Bas begun functioning once more.
"mme searching of passengers' effects, conducted in the past by Chinese police, is now done by Customs officers, while the property and launches belonging 40 the Service have been returned by the Japanese.
Although two weeks have elapsed since the announcement of the "reopening," there has been no movement of cargoes by the British steamer calling at Canton once a week.
It is understood that Butterfield Swire, agents for the British vessel sailing between Hongkong and Canton, are not accepting freight for the present, This is believed to be in connection with a demand by the local Chinese authorities that the company employ stevedores nominal. ed by them.
It is also reported that the Hongkong authorities, up to he present, have refused to allow the vessel to carry cargoes up to Canton. Though ofücial information is lacking, the reason for this is believed to be due io the position of the Customs in Hongkong. The Chinese Superintendent of Customs in Canton, it is rumoured, has opened a branch office in Hongkong to deal with applications for exports to Canton, in order that all such applications go through his hands in stead of the Commissioner of Customs in Hongkong.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.