in re
Bresser
Littu from Mr Kresour
reference to the Memorial the Hongting Chamber of respecting
ammne
the
Revision of the Treaty of
Vientom.
2 f
Löclolu, 1867.
Enclosure N.3 in
N. 3 in Govenor
Lin.
Richard Graves MacDonnell' Despatch N. 592 of 14th Nov. 1862.
The Amoy Memorial. The following letter has been prepared by the Amoy community, in accordance with Sir R. Alcock's general request for sugges- tions from the various ports.
AMOY. 18th October, 1867. SIR, Responding to the invitation given through you by Her Majesty's Minister Plení. potentiary at Pekin, to state our opinion upon i any matters.connected with British interests in China, with the view that they may be cousi- dered in the coming revision of the Treaty of Tientsin, we now beg leave to wait upon you with the few following remarks.
We find that the general business of this port has considerably diminished during the Jast few years, and we attribute this in a very great measure to
Lee-kim Trans. It is impossible for us to ex press ourselves loo strongly on the subject of i these illegal exactions. We have protested against them on varions pecusions, and, as you are aware, we presented a Memorial on this subject to Her Majesty's Minister when he paid a visit to this place. On that occasion His Ex- cellency frankly informed us that the taxes were in his opinion illegal, and contrary to the spirit of the Treaty, and that he was prepared to do all in his power to abolish then. Since then three months' have elapsed but the taxes are still being collected.
We enclose copy of the above Memorial, the tenor of which we beg to confirm in every re spect.
We are prepared to prove that these taxes range frou 43 per cent. to 90 per cent., and that under this heavy incubus our trade bas materially diminished. It would certainly be preposterous to expect anything else, particu larly when our goods can be undersold in our own legitimate consuming districts, by impor tations overland from neighbouring provinces where no snch illegal taxes exist. We give it as our decided and matured opinion, that unless prompt and efficient redress be obtained, many Jucrative branches of our trade will be lost to us entirely. Before leaving this subject, we would beg to protest against the wanton dia. regard of Treaty rights, under these we have invested considerable sums of money in real property, which will be to a certain extent use- less, if the present state of matters is to obtain. Her Majesty's Minister having endorsed our opinion that the taxes are illegal, we do not see why there should be so manch delay, or any difficulty in obtaining speedy redress.
Custom House. We think that some part of the diminution of Trade is due to Custom House restrictions, and we would be glad to see a more liberal spirit obtain in the general administra- tion of their affairs. At present they claim the right under clause XXXVII of levying a fine of Taels 500, in case of false or incorrect maui- fest. The amount is inordinately heavy, espe cially in the latter case, and we think the entire clause calls for revision. Also, that where there is no evidence of intent to defrand | the revenue, the Custom House should have no power to call for a fine, and that in any caso British merchants should not be finel unless with the consent of the British Consal. We find that the tendency of Cnsion House action, and the loose manner in which the Treaty of Tien- tsin is worded and curried unt, is to take away much of the general trade from Treaty Ports and throw it into Hongkong. Amoy for cen- turies previous to the Custom House heing opened was the head quarters, in the South of China, of this trade with Siam, the Straits, and Java, but latterly very much of the trade has gone to Hongkong. The trade also in Malacca Tin, which in former years was a large and valuable one, bas dwindled into insignificance. It is an undoubted fact that large quantities of this article are imported into Chinchew (which naturally in previous years got all its supplies from Amoy) by native Lorehas from Hongkong. and the Imperial Revenue, as well as Mercan. We tile interests, has suffered accordingly. think that Foreign Goods and Opium, imported in native Junks, ought to pay the same duties! as they do in foreigu hottons, and to effect this these importations ought to be reported to the Imperial Custom Fonse
We also think that th Custom House may be said to encourage, bitly, the continuance of smuggling at the non-treaty ports. so long as they have not an efficient preventive service on the coast. There is no doubt that smuggling by natives does take place on the coast to a large, extent, and that they are encouraged in it by the absence of Revenue Cruisers, and by the high tariff dues and illegal taxes which obtain at treaty ports.
We do not think that the Custon House! does its duty, either to the Chinese Govern- ment, or the Mercantile interests, so long as an efficient preventive service does not exist. We think that there ought to be, at least, one Steam Revenue Cruiser for each treaty port with jurisdiction over all the neighbouring bays and creeks, and as more than a suspicion of smuggling has already attached to the so called Revenue Cruisers which are established on the coast, we think measures ought to be takes to prevent the possibility of snuggling by these vessels.
We now proceed to mention those points on which some modification of the present treaty, and additional privileges in the revised one. are required in the interests of commerce.
Transit Dies-An imperative necessity exists for some stringent regulations being made in respect of these, and to ensure that no other Tax can by any possibility be levied. We think that none other than the Tariff duty ought to be leviable within a radius of say six miles from the Custom House at the treaty port. and that the due payment of Transit dues, as per section III, Rule VII, ought to free the goods as far up country as the importer may deside. We also think that as a safe-guard it ought to be made competent for any British Consel, where it is proved that any additional tax has been in- flicted, to order the amount to be deducted from the next payinent to the Custom-house.
Duties on Exports.-Tea-The quality of a large proportion of the tea produced in the surrounding districts is very much inferior to any other class of Chinese tea, and consequently the duty of Tis. 25 per picul, weighs much more! heavily here than in any other port in China. This duty was calculated to be five per cent. on the average value, whereas in cominon Aukoi tea it is not less than 35 per cent. In Japan ai very similar class of tea is obtained; the export duty is there only 5 per cent.; it is shipped to the same market as we ship the common tens of this district, and under the present heavy duty we cannot compete with it. We would suggest that the duty should be levied at 5 per cent. ad valorem, the proof of valne being the price at which it is purchased.
Rice, Wheut, and all other articles of food should be free of duty entirely, and their move- ments amongst the coast ports unrestricted in any way. The present system, while adding very little to the revenue, is fraught with several evils. It tends to take away the trade from Treaty ports and throw it into Hongkong. I enhances the price to consumers, and in times of scarcity supplies cannot be readily sent from neighbouring ports, because, on account of the export duty, it is a rare occurrence to see rice, other than what is wanted for local consump- tion, stored in a Treaty port.
Salt-The carriage of salt in foreign vessels" betwixt coast ports ought to be allowed under bond, in the same way as copper cash.
A good many vessels have obtained cargoes of salt on We Mandarin account on the Formosa coast. do not see why the Government monopoly could not be as effectually protected where the salt is shipped in foreign bottoms as it is now in native janks. In former years salt was frequently ex ported to the Straits and Calentta. The article can be furnished in almost any quantity from Quemoy, and itcertainly would be very beneficial to that place, and also give some employment to foreign vessels were the prohibition removed. We would suggest that the export to foreign ports be also permitted.
Duties ou Imports.--Munchester Goods-We would suggest a reduction of one-half of the present duty on these goods, and we believe that were suck concessions made the importa. tion would be stimulated in no ordinary degree.
Woollens. At the present tariff, our goods cannot compete upon favourable terms with Russian-made goods brought in overland; we would for this reason suggest a reduction of one-half.
Dock Material. The duty upon wood, copper, yellow metal, and all such articles is very beavy indeed. We cannot see any good reason why these or any other articles brought in solely for foreign consumption, or to be re-exported, should pay any duty whatever, and we would suggest either that they should be entirely free or that a drawback should be given on all articles which can be proved to have been re-exported.
The Dock here was not started as merely a commercial speculation, and it has since been of great benefit in providing employment in this overpopulated and poor district. We can only say that under the present circumstances, it is impossible that the Dock can prosper, or compete with the Hongkong docks, and that, if foreign enterprise is to be summarily checked,
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