28
city devastated by fire is less than it used to be, and disasters such as those of 1866 and 1878 are, we hope, not likely to be repented, but still the risk is one to provide against which the colony should be willing to pay a reasonable insurance premium in the form of a liberal provision for the main- tenance of an efficient fire brigade. We hope, however, that no scheme of reorganisation will be decided upon until after the fullest public discussion, for the subject is one in which everyone takes an interest and upon which there are many people outside official circles who are capable of expressing an intelligent opinion.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
goes on at all ports, and at the great em- porium of Shanghai even the Municipal Council of the Foreign Settlements joins in the practice of raising local revenue by dues on merchandise, the tax being levied there under the euphemistic name of wharfage dues. These dues if levied by the Chinese authorities would be considered a squeeze, and it is much to be regretted that the Municipal Council should by such example support the Chinese in the levy of duties beyond those authorised by treaty. However, independently of what the Shang- hai Municipal Council may do, the vicio principle is established that foreign goods that have paid all charges leviable under the THE OPENING OF WUCHOW AND treaty are still liable to local taxation at the
CHINESE SQUEEZES,
*
*
an
TRANSIT PASSES AND THE WEST RIVER TRADE.
|
[July 7,
from Macao to Kongmoon and Komchuk, with liberty to carry passengers and cargo, without any obligation, as hitherto insisted upon, to proceed first to Samshui. The re- marks of our contemporary apply pari passu to the trade from Hongkong, and it would be a convenience from every point of view if traders were allowed to take out transit passes at Kowloon or Lappa to cover their goods destined for the landing places along the West River. The Convention provides that these landing places are to be under the same regulations as the ports of call on the Yangtze River. In the Chefoo Agreement, under which the Yang- tsze landing places were opened, it is provided that "At all such points, ex-
cept in the case of imports accompanied by a transit duty certificate, or exports "similarly certificated, which will be sever "ally passed free of lekin on exhibition of "such certificates, lekin will be duly col- "lected on all goods whatever by the native "authorities." Trade can accordingly only be effectively carried on by steamers under transit pass, and as regards Kongmoon and Komchuk, which are situated on the lower branch of the West River, between Macao and Samshui, it is a disadvantage that the goods should have to be carried to Sam- shui or Canton in order to obtain a pass. Even as regards the calling ports higher up the river-Takhing and Shuihing-it would probably be a convenience and save delay if passes could be secured at the commence- ment of the voyage instead of having to be taken out while the goods are at Canton or Samshui en route.
· HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
at the offices on 30th June.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer)_pre- Dr. J. M. sided, and there were also present-Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of the Police), Hon. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
various ports and inlaud markets to which they may find their way. This principle" Anyone who expected that the opening of is naturally applied to Wuchow as well as Wuchow would result in foreign goods other ports, but it is not therefore to be reaching the hands of the Chinese consumer assumed that the port is going to prove a on payment of the treaty tariff duty only failure. Under the new conditions goods must have had a very imperfeet acquaint-destined for Wuchow escape the squeezes ance with the conditions prevailing at en route to which they were formerly sub- other open ports. Unfortunately the levyjected, and from that port they can be sent of duty in addition to that provided for further inland under transit pass; and we in the treaties, when the goods have passed are glad to learn that there is every pros- out of the importers' hands, has been re-pect of the trade reaching a large develop- cognised as legal by the British Govern- ment. It would be an excellent thing if ment, and in the Chefoo Convention the China's corrupt fiscal system could be following provision is found:-"With re-entirly reformed, but in the meantime the "ference to the area within which, accord-opening of new ports and new trade routes ing to the treaties in force, lekin ought not is an immediate and present advantage, not- to be collected on foreign goods at the withstanding that the same difficulties and it open ports, Sir THOMAS WADE agrees to adverse conditions may have to be contended move his Government to allow the ground with there that have so long vexed the souls "rented by foreigners (the so-called Con- of traders at the original treaty ports.
cessions) at the different ports, to be regarded as the area of exemption from “ lekin." This in effect gives the Pro- vincial Authorities carte blanche with regard to the taxation of foreign goods as soon
In an article on the West River trade, as the goods have left the area of ex- the Echo Macaense, after referring to the emption, which in the ports where no Chinese attempts at extortion at Wuchow, concession has been marked out means goes on to say that there is another im- simply the foreigner's godown. Goods sent portant point that requires solution, so far into the interior under transit pass are as Macao is concerned. By the Convention protected en route, but when they arrive at between England and China only Samshui their destination they, too, are subject to local and Wuchow are open ports-(our contem- taxation. The more this question of likin,porary should have added Kongkun)-the loti-shui, and other irregular taxation is remaining places mentioned being merely ventilated, with a view to the introduction landing places. Goods destined for the of an honest and uniform system, the better, open ports can pay their duties on arrival, but it seems absurd to cry "Ichabod" over but where shall goods destined for the the opening of Wuchow because goods landing places pay, seeing that duties are arriving there are treated no better than not collected there? Our contemporary they are at other open ports. What hap-says it would be logical that the duties pens at Canton? We turn for an answer should be collected at Lappa, but it appears to the recently published report of Mr. the Customs station there is not authorised BYRON BRENAN, "At Canton, where the to receive them or to exercise any jurisdic-any, in which they are interested."
The PRESIDENT-I second the motion of the "retail trade is larger than at any other tion whatever over the trade, except to Vice-President.
port in China, the import duty is merely issue a pass to steamers proceeding to the à first instalment of what British mer- West River and see that they observe the "chandise has to pay.
Goods route laid down in the notification issued by imported at Canton, by steamer pay on the Canton Customs some time ago. This landing the import duty stipulated in the limitation, the writer urges, is vexatious and treaty; this is paid to the Imperial Gov-prejudicial to the development of Macao's "ernment through the foreign custom trade. The traffic between Macao and
house. Immediately afterwards the goods "have to pay a provincial tax called lekin, "and at the same time another provincial tax "called defence tax, that is, a tax instituted "of recent years to provide funds for the "defence of the province. After these three imposts have been paid the goods may enter Canton and pass into consump- tion within a restricted area, beyond which more taxing stations are encountered. "Clearly the intention of the treaty was "that British goods after paying the import duty should be free in the city of Canton; "but in practice the import duty is only a "first payment to the Central Government; "the needs of the provincial Government "have next to be satisfied." This is what
CE
read and confirmed.
The minutes of the previous meeting were
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS AND PRIVATE BUSINESS. The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE I rise to move the resolution that stands in my name, namely, "That the Board do call upon each and every one of the subordinate officers, interpreters, and clerks serving under the Board to furnish to the Board a full and accurate statement of the business concerns, if
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-Åre we going to have any reasons?
The CAPTAINSUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE. I think the resolution speaks for itself. I do not think it is desirable to go into details at present.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I fully endorse the principle of the Vice-Presi- dent's resolution, but I beg to submit that this Board is not competent to make any such de-
and upon its subordinate officers. It must be borne in mind that the Sanitary Board is It has no right or power to engage or dismiss not in the position of an employer of labour.
Kongmoon, it is pointed out, is according to the statistics of the Lappa Customs of considerable importance, as in one year junks made 800 voyages between the two places and carried 53,526 tons of cargo. This volume of trade would give lucrative
even the subordinate officers. These officers employment to a regular line of steamers,
are the servants of the Government; they are and it would be a pity if it con- engaged by the Government and paid by tinued to be carried on in junks, the Government to carry out certain work and still worse would it be if the trade, under the direction of the Board, and so long for the reason that it could not be conducted as that work is efficiently carried out it seems by steamers from Macao direct, were trans-
to me that the Board has no legal right to make ferred to Canton via Samshui. The Echo Board is practically in the position of the head any further demand upon the officers. The urges this matter on the attention of the of a department, and if such a demand as this Macao authorities and suggests that every is to be made upon subordinate officers it appears endeavour should be used to facilitate the to me that it should be made upon all the de- establishment of a regular line of steamers I partments of the Government of this colony. "I