June 10, 1899.]
opium were discovered on board a steamer prior to departure from Hougkong the Master could, as you suggest, certainly hand the drug over to the Police, but this does not constitute the attempt to so smuggle it a punishable offence. It is true the would-be smuggler would suffer the loss of the opium, and the Opium Farmer, to whom it would presumably be handed, would be the gainer, but the offender would get off without further punishment. What is wanted is power to the master of a ship to charge the smuggler with an offence and get him fined at the Police Court for breaking the law, confiscation to follow ou conviction in addition.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON Wilcox,
Secretary.
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
THE INFLUX OF CANTON SUBSIDIARY
COINS.
Hongkong, 19th May, 1899. Sir, I am informed by numerous Chinese clients that they are daily suffering serious loss through the enormous circulation in this colony of Chinese subsidiary coins. Shops of repute which I deal with say they lose $200 per month
and more, by having to receive these coins in retail at par, and when an accuumlation of them takes place there is a loss of 2 per cent. over in exchanging them for legal notes.
It is not for me to say how this stange position of affairs has been accomplished. I have heard that the Government of Cauton are
prepared to issue their subsidiary coin at a dis. count, but this could hardly occur without a remonstrance from the Hongkong Government, who must know that such a step was likely to result in flooding Hougkong with these tokens by unscrupulous Chinese desirous of making a profit.
The fact remains that retail and small whole- sale business in the place is considerably dis-- located by the displacement of practically all the Hongkong subsidiary coin for that of Kwangtung.
The Chinese shopkeepers say they cannot at present refuse the Chinese coin, and ask me what they can do by way of a remedy. Possibly your Chamber might take the matter in band and answer this question.
If the Hongkong Government were to issue
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
an authoritative notification that there are sufficient British subsidiary coins in stock for the circulation of the colony, and that shop. keepers need not accept Chinese coins, it might help to remedy matters.-Fam, sir, your obedi- ent servant,
(signed) J. GRANT SMITH. The Chairman, Hongkong Chamber of Com-
merce.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 1st June, 1899. Dear Sir, Your letter of the 19th ultimo calling attention to the loss cansed to Chinese traders and storekeepers in being obliged to receive the subsidiary coins issued from the Canton Mint at par while owing to the exces- sive influx of this currency it is usually at a discount of over 2 per cent., came before the Committee at its monthly meeting on the 30th vilt.
In reply, I am directed to inform you that the question had already forced itself upon the attention of the Committee; it was referred to by the Chairman at the annual meeting in April: and it will receive further consideration with a view to endeavouring to discover a remedy.—I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
J. Grant Smith, Esq.
THE LEKIN AUTHORITIES AND BRITISH-
OWNED CRAFT ON THE WEST RIVER,
Care of Rev. R. H. Graves, D.D.
Canton, 23rd May, 1899. Sir, I beg to bring the following matter
before you, judging it to be of importance to
all who are or may be interested in steam navigation on the West River.
I have a small steam-launch registered in my name at the British Consulate here as a British owned launch. She is also registered at the
1
Chinese Customs and has a licence for plying on Inland Waters. I have also as my property a native built boat for carrying passengers, which is towed by my launch. At present we ship no cargo either ou the launch or pass- enger boat, but wish to do so on both vessels as soon as the arrangements are complete.
The launch had been towing the native built boat about three weeks without any trouble, when on Saturday, May 13, the Hoppo at Sam shni complained to the Commissioner of Cus toms at Samshui that we refused to report at two Lekin stations, and having no Ch'uan-liad licence for the native built boat, she was liable to fine and confiscation. I proved to the satis faction of the British Consul that no Regula tion in regard to reporting at Lekin States had been violated, and on the Consul representing that to the Commissioner of Customs, the launch papers were returned after a few days' detention, which meant a loss to the launch of some $200. The launch is again towing the native boat, the latter carrying passengers only. As regards the Customs contention that Chuan-liao licence is necessary for a native built boat owned by a Foreigner, the British Consul bere refuses to recognise that claim, and con- siders that No. 5 Rule of Supplementary Rules under "Inland Steamer Regulations" places a native-towed boat on the same footing as the steamer towing.
I think the Consul here thinks the matter important and considers the Lekin are tying to do a squeeze. As the matter has never come up before, and is a little complicated, I think it will be referred to Pekine both by the Consal and Commissioner of Customs. In the mean- time, if we carry cargo it will be only by
Transit pass."
471
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. (Here follows the Proclamation, which has already been published.)
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 1st June 1899. Sir, The, attention of this Chamber has been directed to the publication, in the Hongkong Daily Press of the 27th ultimo, of a translation of a proclamation said to have been issued by the Head Lekin Office in Kwangtung, announc- ing the re-establishment, by anthority of H.E. the Viceroy, of a Farm for the collection of lekin on kerosine in that province, and a copy of which is enclosed herewith.
From inquiries instituted, the Committee are satisfied that such a proclamation has been issued, and though the version given by the translator may not be quite free from inaccura- cies, it is substantially correct. It is, of course, a fact to be noted that the amount to be charged by the new Farmers is the same as the tax now being levied, viz. : 15 cents per case of 50 catties instead of 30 cents per case collected by the old Farmers.
The Committee are not, however, so much concerned with the amount or even with the
question of whether or not the Farm can collect duty on kerosine covered by Transit Pass, as they are with the principle involved in this resuscitation of an abuse which they had reason to hope had been permanently abolished. In his letter of the 18th March, 1898, conveying the welcome assurance to this Chamber that the collection of Tso-li on kerosine had been
abolished, your predecessor (Mr. Brenan) an nounced that the Viceroy's order to that effect had been given by direction of the Tsung-li
Kamen and that in future the collection of the
I had not thought of troubling the Chamber Tso-li tax must be controlled by Government of Commerce with the matter until friends here | officials. The appearance of this proclamation thought it might be well to acquaint the Cham-annonucing the establishment of the New Farm ber of Commerce with a few details.
is therefore either a direct breach of the orders transmitted from Peking, or else it indicates a reversal of those orders by the Tsung-li Yamen itself.
As regards myself, I hope you will not deem it out of taste for me to write you a fow parti culars, as I am unknown to you. I am a "mer- chant missionary working in connexion with The Southern Baptist Mission." The steam launch is running in my name and for my in- terest. A party of Chines: Christieus has also an interest in the launch.
Captain Brown, of the Hongkong aud Kow- loon Wharf and Godown Co., would, I've no doubt, give you further particulars, if you need them,I am, sir, yours sincerely,
(Signed) E. T. SNAGGS.
R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce
Hongkong, 1st June, 1899. Dear Sir, I beg leave to acknowledge re- ceipt of your letter off the 23rd ult., and am instructed to tender you the thanks of the Com- mittee for making them acquainted with the particulars of your case with the Kwangtang Lekin Authorities. The case is in good hands, and the Committee will be interested to learn how it proceeds.—I am, dear sir, yours faith- fully,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX
Secretary.
E. T. Suaggs, Esq., Cautou.
REVIVAL OF AN ILLEGAL MONOPOLY IN
KWANGTUNG.
It cannot be pretended that this Farm is even an official monopoly; it is a mono- poly granted, as on the former occasion, to a merchant, or more correctly, no doubt, a syndicate of merchants. All the old objec tions, save in the matter of the amount of duty, apply to the new Lekin Farm, and they cannot be too strongly insisted upon.
His Excellency Sir Claude MacDonald was thoroughly convinced of the inequity of this practice of placing monopolies of this kind in the hands of persons who are themselves inte- rested in trade, and there is no doubt, from the tone of his despatches, that he believed the decision come to, on his representations, by the T'sungli Yamen was final.
It is unfortunately only too evident that, the evil was only scotched, not killed, and the battle has to be fought over again. Will you there- fore be so good as to take up the question, and point out to His Excellency the Viceroy that the revival of this Lekin Farm is the renewal of a former attempt to build up an injurious monopoly calculated to seriously restrict foreign trade, and the continuance of which will not be tolerated by the Treaty Powers. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
(signed) R. M. GRAY.
Chairman.
The Shell Transport and Trading Co.. Ed. R. W. Mansfield, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty's
Hongkong, 29th May, 1899.
SIB-We beg to draw the attention of your Committee to the enclosed cutting, taken from the Hongkong Daily Press of the 27th inst., giving particulars of a new Lekin Tax which it appears has been put on kerosene oil in the Kwangtung proviace.
We have so far not been able to procure a copy of the original proclamation, nor have we any further evidence concaruing this new farm, bat we consider it important that the matter should be investigated at once and bronght to the notice of H.B.M.'s Consul at Canton by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
Any further information we secure we shall be pleased to put before your Committee. We have The honour to be, sir, your obedient servants)
(Signed) ARNhold, Karberg & Col,
Agents,
The Shell Transport and Trading Co., Ld. R. C. Wilcox, Esq., Secretary,
Consul Canton-
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 1st June, 1899. Dear Sirs, I beg to own receipt of your letter of the 29th alt. enclosing a cutting from the Daily Press being copy of a translation of a proclamation by the Head Lekin Office, Kwangtung, announcing the revival of the Farm for the collection of lekin on Kerosine in be brought to the notice of H.B.M.'s (onsul that provinco, and suggesting that the matter
at Canton.
In reply, I am instructed to say that the matter has been inquired into, the anthenticity of the proclamation ascertained, and strong re presentations made to H.B.M.'s Consuni at Can-
ton.—I am, dear Sirs, Yours faithfully,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX. Secretary, To Mesrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co., Agents, Shell Transport and Trading Co., Ld.
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