Britain's imperial cornerstone in China : the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, 1854-1949 /Donna Brunero.

"Established as the Imperial Maritime Customs Service in the wake of China's defeat in the Opium Wars of 1842-3, the British-dominated service became a central feature of the treaty port system. It was also responsible for harbour maintenance, lighthouse service, quarantine, anti-piracy patrols and postal services. [...] The book provides an overview of the development of the service [...] focusing particularly on its last decades when it faced challenges from nationalist elements, civil unrest and war, compounded with tensions between the inspectorate and British interests in China."--Provided by the publisher.