COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN CHINA AND PORTUGAL
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guage. All these versions have the same sense and meaning, but if there should happen to be any divergence in the interpretation of the Portuguese and Chinese versions, the English text will be made use of to resolve the doubts that may have arisen.
Art. XIX. The present Treaty shall be ratified by His Most Faithful Majesty the King of Portugal and Algarves and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China. The exchange of the ratifications shall be made within the shortest possible time, and the Treaty will be printed and published, in order that the functionaries and subjects of the respective countries may have full knowledge of its stipulations and may fulfil them.
In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and have affixed their seals thereto.
REVISED REGULATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS IN CHINA
SUBMITTED IN A MEMORIAL BY THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND APPROVED BY THE THRONE
I.-The Board of Commerce having in obedience to an Imperial edict assumed the direction of Railway and Mining Affairs, will issue special regulations with regard to mining, and hereby gives notice that all records relating to railway conces- sions already granted have been transferred to this Board by the General Bureau of Railways and Mines, and that all applications for railway concessions now pending will be considered and dealt with by this Board.
II.-All applications for railway concessions, whether by Chinese or foreigners, should be made in accordance with these regulations, and no appeal will be allowed to Regulations which may have heretofore been adopted by provincial authorities and which may conflict with the present Regulations. When a railway concession has been granted by this Board, persons to whom the privelege has been granted must carefully observe the Company Laws approved by the Throne.
III.- When the officials or merchants of any province have raised the capital for the construction either of a main or branch line of railway, and submitted plans and full particulars as regards the capital, they must wait until this Board has com. municated with the local officials of the district to which they belong, requiring them to investigate and report to this Board concerning the trustworthiness and financial standing of the applicants, and whether or not they have done anything in violation of these Regulations. When the report of the local officials has been received the Board will decide the application.
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IV. When a railway route shall have been selected the local officials in the districts affected shall notify the people and warn them not to obstruct the progress of the work. The local officials shall also see that the necessary land is sold to the Company at reasonable and current rates, and they must not allow the price to be increased. The Railway Company must agree to promptly pay the annual taxes in respect of such land. Should there be any burying grounds in the line of railway they must be avoided if possible by a curve, so as not to hurt the susceptibilities of the people. If it be impossible to make the curve, then the local officials must decide what amount the Company shall pay by way of compensation so that no popular clamour or disturbance may be caused.
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V. When Chinese merchants make application for a railway concession they must, if there be any foreign shareholders, not only file their application with this Board but likewise with the Board of Foreign Affairs who will inake due investiga- tion into the matter; and if foreign merchants seek to obtain a concession in their own names they must not only make application to the Board of Foreign Affairs, but to this Board as well. Whether foreign merchants alone, or in association with
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN