OPIUM CONVENTION.
4. For the keeping by importers, exporters, and godown owners, in such form as the Governor may require, books showing the movement of opium.
5. For taking stock of quantities in the stores, and search for deficiencies by the opium farmer, and for furnishing to the Harbour Master returns of stocks.
6. For amendment of Harbour Regulations as to night clearances of junks.
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 110 taels 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. † The 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, and that the Governor of Hongkong, if he deems it advisable, shall be entitled to send a Hongkong officer to be present 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
† See Treaty of 5th September, 1902, Article III.
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