*
January 26, 19017-
death of the Prince Consort the Inte Queen has always, lived
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
Nevertheless we trust the foreign_re-houses.
र
varied but little by appea, retirement, presentatives will stand fast by this pro- be afforded to any company or nationality.
in public and at Court ceremonies, the public has been fully aware all the time of the deep interest which she took in the welfare of her people, and they have loved her accordingly with an affection which has been accorded to no other British sovereign. In all parts of the Empire the feeling has been the same. Last year saw a remarkable strengthening of the bonds which hold the colonies to the mother country, and with this increase of warmth the sentiment of loyalty toward the head of the Empire has if possible grown greater The sorrow which has befallen Britain is echoed throughout her possessions and de- pendencies; and nowhere, we are certain, is it more keen than in this Colony of Hongkong, whose very foundation and con- tinuance is a part of the history of the late Queen's reign. In the presence of "the dumb hour clothed in black" but one feel- ing animates every heart.
In any case, no advantage should posal. If the tariff is to be increased it can. On this point the Foreign Ministers should only be done on these terms; otherwise the certainly obtain a definite understanding last state of foreign trade in China will clearly and expressly laid down in the... prove very much worse than its first. We agreement. In making these suggestionai re glad to note, by our Shanghai morning the German Association of Shanghai hasin contemporary, that the question of treaty done good and useful work, and the Consul-": revison is engaging the attention of the General is to be congratulated on having so German Association there, the Consul promptly applied to his countrymen engaged » General for Germany having asked them to in trade for an expression of their views. point out the principal subjects demanding We await with interest the reply of Sir notice in the coming negotiations. The AS- ERNEST SATOW to the letter of the sociation have done this very thoroughly Hongkong Chamber of Commerce on - and embodied their ideas in a memorandum the same subject. Perhaps His Excel which has been published in the German lency prefers to wait to ascertain the organ at that port and reproduced in a
ranslation in these columns on the 7th Plenipotentiaries before inviting an expres», Views and proposals of the Chinese inst. They of course place the revision of sion of opinion from the Chambers, and the Tariff in the forefront, and urge first there may be something to be said in favour that the ad valorem duties shall be, whereof this action, but we are by no means sûre possible, replaced by specific duties. ad valorem duties have led to much un-re in the position of presenting demands, The that it would prove the wisest. The Powers pleasantness between German importers and and it seems to us that it is for them to say the Customs authorities, owing to the duty what is wanted and, if practicable, to insist being fixed on the market value of the upon their proposal being accepted and goods, and the difficulty experienced in carried into effect. : an agreement being come: to as to what that (Daily Press, 19th January.)
alue really is, more especially in the case The question of the revision of the Chinese of goods sold "to arrive.” With regard to Tariff will unquestionably come up for con-ekin, the German Association ask that these sideration during the negotiations for, a duties shall be abandoned altogether and settlement between the foreign Ministers and higher duties substituted, i.e. to allow goods so-called statesmen that China has brought the Chinese Government. There are condi that have once paid import duty to pass
to the front during the present crisis, the tions in connection with the duties levied free through China, or to unite the collection old Viceroy of the Liang Kiang is the only that render the present system intolerable of lekin with that of the Imperial Maritime one who has been able to grasp the situa to, foreign merchants and traders, and on Customs. This recommendation is on all-ion. Reading between the lines the sketch their side the Chinese want to realise a larger fours with the views of all foreign mer-
of his policy given in the Universal Gazette amount from the trade carried on with for-chants, we believe. The Association next
seems to afford the only reasonable grounds eign countries. The local Chamber of Com-proceeds to deal with half-duty drawbacks, for a settlement of those difficulties in which merce, we are glad to note, is keeping this which they rightly argue should be issued China, through the action of her govern contingency well in sight, and has addressed in less time than at present, and suggest ment, finds herself placed. In this respect to the British Minister in Peking a letter two months as a reasonable period. They the proposals of the Nanking viceroy are in reminding him of the promise given by his also propose that these drawbacks shouldgreeable contrast to the impractical sug- predecessor in office, Sir CLAUDE Mic be made available for payment of export or gestions of his fellow in the Liang
TARIFF REVISION.
IU KUNG-YI ON THE SITUATION
(Daily Press, 21st January). It is curious to observe that of all the
s are
DONALD, that the Chambers of Commerce import duties indiscriminately and at any give some hope that if his suggestions and'
no doubt that his destruction was already determined on, and it was only the personal pluck of the aged Viceroy, who accepted the position, and openly dared the worst that the Court could do, that prevented him being
made to pay with his life for his unwelcome»
of Hongkong and Shanghai would be afford- Customs station, or be redeemable for cash received, it really may become possible to ed an opportunity, before any amended at their full value. At present six months enter on definite negotiations regarding the tariff is adopte l, of considering and report-often elapse before the exporter can get his future relations of China towards the world ing on any proposals for the revision of the money back, and this is an obstruction to it large. LIU KUNG-YI from the beginning tariff. Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD also stated,trade which ought not to exist. On this of the troubles, it must be remembered, in this connection, that the opinions of these head, we think, there will be no difference made no concealment of his views that the Chambers would receive full and careful of opinion among the foreign communites Dowager Empress and her party were em consideration. No doubt the Chambers will or the Chambers of Commerce.
barking the State on a course which was have a great deal to say on the questions of Coming to the question of Customs regu-certain to involve the worst consequences; lekin and the differential duties imposed by lations, the German Association is of opinion and this, it also must be remembered, he did the Haikwan (or Superintendent) of Native that those dealing with Night, Permits, Sun-at the imminent risk of his life, for there is Customs at Canton. The existence of com-day Permits, &c., require radical alteration. peting Customs establishments in Kwang. The Association have had long and practical tung has long been a faithful source of experience of their working in Shanghai, trouble and obstruction, as by its working where they probably exist under the most the Chinese traders are tempted to ship favourable conditions, and if they are not goods by junk instead of by steamer from found convenient at that port they must Canton. It may be argued that, in con-unquestionably need revison. On the ques-advice. When, therefore, LIU KUNG-YI sequence, the goods are laid on the Hong. tion of Bonded Warehouses the Association pleads for a remission in the punishments kong market at a somewhat cheaper rate, is most emphatic. As most of our readers meted out for the Manchu princes, we feel but as this is done at the expense of are aware, the China Merchants' S.N. Co.'s that his words are dictated by no craven foreign shipping company, and is in direct wharves and godowns alone possess this fears, but are the outcome of well considered violation of treaty rights, the point privilege, which constitutes at once a valu.thought. So also he has some reason to cannot be maintained, as an advantage con-able concession and an unfair monopoly allego for his protest that it is unadvis- ferred on merchants at the cost of ship. The Association points out the unreasonable to press to an exteme the disarma- owners cannot make legal an infringement ableness of this monopoly, and shows howment of the Empire. In the interests of of the treaties. The only possible way of it works to the injury of the foreign com-foreign Powers no
some better worked in a country like China is to remove the disturbances the Banks refused to make out system of guarantee, short cause. entire upon goods stored in China dering the powerless for good as the lekin should be collected by the Imperial Merchants godowns. Moreover there is well as for evil, must to an honest subject Maritime Customs, and the lekin should be the fact that the accommodation provided seem advisable. Nor will any right-minded merged in the Customs duty, a proportion by them is frequently insufficient. There is Power be found to object to the principle of of proceeds being handed by the Collectorate, indeed no reason why one Company should restraining the interference of foreign mis- to the provincial governments in compensa-be thus favoured, especially one competing sionaries in cases where only Chinese sub- tion for the loss of lekin. This provision is with foreigners for the carriage and storagejects are concerned. Objections**
to these not unlikely to find favour with the Im of goods. The godowns should either be attempts to create an imperium in imperio perial Government, but it will probably neutral and owned by the Customs, or any have not come from Chinese sources alone" meet with opposition from the provincial foreign godown company that will conform It is unfortunately the case that these inter- administrations, who will find their squeezes the Customs regulations should have «ferences have in many instances been dictated somewhat shorn by such an arrangement. fits godowns made into Bonded Ware by political motives, and anyone who will
securing the abolition of such infringements munity by the fact that during the late self, there are lineman of China her-
ren