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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JULY 7, 1916.
387
As regards goods of German ownership claimed by subjects of neu- tral States, the Customs authorities may only allow the re-exportation of such of these goods as may be shown by production of reliable documents to have been acquired and paid for before March 1, 1915, and subject to the proviso that for such of these goods as are included in our lists of absolute and conditional contraband it is necessary to have the further assurance on the part of the Governments of the countries to which they are destined that they will not be re-exported in any way or form. d. For goods of German ownership which have not been acquired and paid for by Italians or by subjects of allied States prior to February 10, 1916, or by subjects of neutral States prior to March 1, 1915, no permission can be granted for importation or re-exportation abroad (.., to allied or neutral countries unless the price which the acts of sale show the goods to have fetched, and which the Customs authorities must themselves examine and verify, is first deposited at the Customs. The sum paid will be deposited by the Customs authorities with the Caisse of Deposits and Loans till the end of the war.
Re-exportation to neutral countries of goods from requisitioned German steamers must moreover be subordinated to the observance of the rules and precautions which in general govern exportation and tran- sit of goods to the countries themselves.
e. The Customs authorities will in no circumstances permit the release of the goods in question for importation into the Kingdom or re-exportation abroad, unless the original bills of lading, duly endorsed, and the proper orders of release, signed by the legal representatives of the shipping companies concerned, or, in their absence, by persons whom the Swiss Consul shall have indicated as authorised to execute the operations of liquidating the goods on behalf of the above-mentioned companies have been first presented, and the nulla osta of the naval and military autho- rities in so far as the requisitioning of the goods is concerned has been obtained.
Moreover, before consigning the goods the Customs authorities must satisfy themselves that any expenses incurred by the naval authorities in connection with the goods have been refunded to them.
If in verifying the cases it is found that goods are other than those indicated in the nulla osta of the naval and military authorities, the Customs authorities will not allow the operations to proceed unless a fresh nulla osta of the above-mentioned authorities is produced.
f. As regards unclaimed goods, the Customs authorities, within a fixed time limit to be fixed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Marine, shall arrange, in agreement with the Captains of the Ports, for their sale as abandoned goods by public auction, all private negotiations being excluded in every case.
The net proceeds of such sale shall be deposited with the Caisse of Deposits and Loans, in the manner prescribed under (c).
Perishable goods or goods which constitute a danger to public health or the safety of the ports may be sold at any moment, whoever the owners may be, after their condition and value have been established, and the net proceeds will be deposited in the manner and under the conditions above laid down.
g. The duty fixed in the existing general tariff will be levied on German goods
which are allowed to be imported.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will notify the Swiss Legation, as protecting Ger- man interests in Italy, of the discharge of cargoes from each of the requisitioned vessels. Thirty days from the day of such discharge will be granted as period within which goods. which cannot be requisitioned may be withdrawn. This time-limit may be lengthened, or also reduced, if the exigencies of the port concerned, of commerce, or of public wel- fare, demand.
Foreign Office,
May 11, 1916.
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