298
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26TH MARCH, 1887.
The conditions on which it is agreed to submit the Ordinance, are:-
1. That China arranges with Macao for the adoption of equivalent measures. 2. That the Hongkong Government shall be entitled to repeal the Ordinance if it be
found to be injurious to the Revenue or to the legitimate trade of the Colony.
3. That an Office under the Foreign Inspectorate shall be established on Chinese Territory at a convenient spot on the Kowloon side for sale of Chinese Opium Duty Certificates, which shall be freely sold to all comers, and for such quantities of Opium as they may require.
4. That Opium accompanied by such certificates, at the rate of not more than Tls. 110 per picul, shall be free from all further imposts of every sort, and have all the benefits stipulated for by the Additional Article on behalf of Opium, on which duty has been paid at one of the ports of China, and that it may be made up in sealed parcels at the option of the purchaser.
5. That junks trading between Chinese ports and Hongkong, and their cargoes shall not be subject to any dues or duties in excess of those leviable on junks and their cargoes, trading between Chinese ports and Macao, and that no dues whatsoever shall be demanded from junks coming to Hongkong from ports in China, or proceeding from Hongkong to ports in China, over and above the dues paid or payable at the ports of clearance or destination.
6. That the Officer of the Foreign Inspectorate, who will be responsible for the management of the Kowloon Office, shall investigate and settle any complaints made by junks trading with Hongkong against the Native Customs Revenue Stations or Cruisers in the neighbourhood, and that the Governor of Hongkong, if he deems it advisable, shall be entitled to send a Hongkong Officer to be present at, and assist in the investigation and decision.
If however they do not agree a reference may be made to the Authorities at Peking for a joint decision.
Sir Robert HART undertakes on behalf of himself and SHAO Tao Tai (who was compelled by unavoidable circumstances to leave before the sittings of the Commission were terminated) that the Chinese Government shall agree to the above conditions.
The undersigned are of opinion that if these arrangements are fully carried out, a fairly satisfactory solution of the questions connected with the so-called "Hongkong Blockade will have been arrived at.
Signed in triplicate at Hongkong, this 11th day of September, 1886.
(Signed),
J. RUSSELL, Puisne Judge of Hongkong.
(Signed),
ROBERT HART, Inspector-General of Customs, China.
(Signed),
BYRON BRENAN,
H. B. M's Consul at Tientsin.
His Excellency then announced that a Meeting of the Executive Council would be held on Tuesday, the 22nd instant. at 3 P.M., to which the Members of this Council were invited to attend, when Mr. Justice RUSSELL'S Confidential Report referred to above would be read.
VOTES OF MONEY PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the Report of the proceedings of the Finance Com:nittee, dated the 11th instant, (No. 7), and moved that the following sums referred to therein be voted, viz.:-
Salary of a Temporary Inspector of Nuisances, for 12th months, at $60 per month, $ 720.00 Allowance for Rent, for 12 months, at $15 per month,
180.00
Allowance for Chair in summer, for 12 months, at $12 per month, for 5 months,
....
60,00
$ 960.00
The Treasurer seconded.
Question--put and passed.