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SUPPLEMENT TO THE
in print, and the date of Your Excellency's departure from China, is too brief to admit of the Chamber dealing with the subject as fully as its importance deserves. They are now engaged upon it, and shortly propose to transmit their views in a despatch to be addressed to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign affairs.
However, the opportunity of Your Excellency being in this Colony is one that they are reluctant to allow to pass without endeavouring to obtain fuller information regarding several clauses in the convention, than can be gathered with certainty from the printed copies of it already referred to; and it is with this object, and also with a desire to express their own views on the subject, that the Chamber now beg that Your Excellency will do them the favour of granting an interview to a deputation from their members, at such time as you may be pleased to appoint. The Chamber, in the hope that the interview will be granted, take the liberty now of bringing to Your Excellency's notice some parts of the Convention, about which they would be glad to be accurately informed.
First, as regards those parts of the Convention that directly affect this Colony:
By Article II. China may appoint Consuls at all ports in the British dominions.
It may therefore be fairly assumed that, amongst the first places to which they are sent, Hongkong will be selected. This, threatening to create an Imperium in Imperio, affects the status of the Colony politically, and it appears to the Chamber more advisable at present to leave it to be dealt with by His Excellency the Governor.
According to Article V. native produce landed in Hongkong, and afterwards sent to a treaty port must pay full duty and all Inland dues; whilst on the other hand, such produce sent from one treaty port to another pays only half import duty, Hongkong thereby being placed at a disadvantage to the extent of half the import duty. In like manner, whilst native produce can be sent to Foreign countries paying only the export duty and 50 per cent. additional for Transit dues, similar produce if sent to Hongkong for shipment must pay export duty at the treaty port, and all the inland dues on the way to it, however much those dues may exceed one half of the export duty.
On the other hand, the Chamber are gratified to find that the former practice of granting at treaty ports exemption certificates for goods to be transhipped at Hongkong to other treaty ports, and which concession towards placing her on an equality with those ports has for some years been withdrawn, is to be again permitted.
By Article VI. Kiungchow, in the rich island of Hainan, is to be removed from the list of treaty ports. The Chamber regret that they can only look upon the closing of this place as a most unfortunate step. A number of merchants have been desirous to carry on trade with Kiungchow, but have been unable to do so, inasmuch as no Consulate of any nationality has been established there. Not only is the island rich in products, and its trade one that would rapidly increase if regulated by the same conditions as obtain at the treaty ports of the mainland, but it promises soon to become a much more valuable market, as the government of Annam is about to throw open several ports to foreign trade, in which event there would without doubt be considerable commercial intercourse between Annam and Kiungchow, and between both and Hongkong. To a Chamber that has always advocated a much more extended intercourse with China, it is of course gratifying to learn that Wuchow will be opened to British trade. It nevertheless regards it as inferior in importance to Kiungchow, and if the privilege of doing business at the one has been obtained at the cost of one right to trade at the other, we fear that the advantage of the exchange has not fallen to British interests.
The arrangement for the commutation of all transit dues upon British goods by the payment of 50 per cent. in addition to the Import duty, on Imports, and of 50 per cent. in addition to the Exports duty, on Exports, is one that the Chamber should hail with much satisfaction, could they take any assurance to themselves from past experience, that the Chinese would faithfully observe their part of the agreement. The Chamber do not hesitate to state that they regard their promises in this matter with the greatest distrust, and would respectfully suggest that either the payment of the 50 per cent., additional to the Import and Export duties be made contingent upon a faithful observance by the Chinese of their part of the agreement, or that her Majesty's Government determine to follow up every known breach of the engagement with uncompromising persistency.
Without such an understanding, the revised conditions bearing in this matter will be as inoperative as those stipulated for in the Treaty of Tientsin, and the Chamber could only regard the arrangement for the commutation of the Transit dues as an additional burden of 21 per cent., on the value of British trade with China. With reference to Rule I. of the Supplementary Rules, the Chamber deem it a matter of paramount importance to have it clearly understood between Britain and China that British merchandise shall pass into any port of the interior upon the payment of Transit Dues of 50 per cent. of, and in addition to the Import duty, without any further exactions whatsoever, and irrespective of the ownership of the goods, and should such be met by the rate in question, a great boon will have been gained. In the case of British merchants resorting to the interior markets for the sale of imports, the prohibition against exhibiting on the houses rented by them their Hong name or the style of their firms, and the provision that such merchants shall not interfere to protect the landlords of such houses from the incidence of charges for which the Chinese may say the same are assessable, must in the opinion of the Chamber to a great extent nullify what advantages appear to be offered, it being left to the Chinese official to levy illegal charges upon the landlords of the houses in question.
With regard to Rule I. of the Supplementary Rules the Chamber consider that native produce brought from the interior for sale and exported to a foreign Country should be exempt from transit dues of every description over and above half the export duty, whether brought to the port by British or by native merchants. But it does not appear from the text that Chinese merchants bringing down the produce are to be dealt with as favourably as the British, a condition of matters that would not be allowed to appear in the text were there not means of evading the stipulations.
The Chamber respectfully enquire in regard to the last clause of Article IV, whether native produce shipped from one treaty port to another, and afterwards exported to a foreign country, shall not be entitled to a refund of inland dues and charges levied in excess of 50 per cent. of the export duty, such for instance as on teas or other produce shipped from Hankow or Kiukiang to Shanghai.
The Chamber would further respectfully enquire whether under Article III. metals and opium are included.
The questions about lighthouses, beacons, pilots, measures for the suppression of piracy, the navigation of the Poyang Lake by British-owned steamers instead of merely by Chinese-like sailing vessels, tonnage dues on hulks and passenger boats, the opening of places on the Yang-tsze above Hankow to foreign trade, of erecting manufactories at the Treaty ports, of working mines, of the increased duty on silk and opium, of trading in the interior with passports, of railroads and telegraphs, and the time during which it is proposed that the Supplementary convention will remain in force, are highly important, and Your Excellency will greatly oblige the members of the Chamber by giving any information about them that you shall feel at liberty to convey.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient Servant,
J. B. TAYLOR.
Vice Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN stated that Sir Rutherford Alcock had replied that he would receive the deputation at 2.30 P.M., at which time they intended waiting upon him.
Mr. RYRIE said it might be desirable to ask the meaning of Art. I. He had read it through, and could not understand its meaning, which was certainly very vague.
The CHAIRMAN said simply that British subjects would have to agree to the terms attaching to any privileges. He thought it applied chiefly to the Russians, who had Hongs in the interior, and that it meant if we had the same privilege granted, it must be in the same terms.
Mr. RYRIE thought the article was useless, and that the old clause as to the most favoured nation was quite enough, and was also distinct and unambiguous.
Mr. KRESSER enquired whether the Russians did not hang out their Hong names. He certainly understood that they were not submitted to the same restrictions as the British. British subjects, it was now arranged, could only reside temporarily in the interior; the Russians, he understood, could do so permanently.
Mr. PYKE thought it most objectionable that British subjects could not in any way interfere with anything that the local officials might choose to do to Chinese, who were in their employ.
Mr. HETHERINGTON thought the terms of residence, as in the convention, were not of so much importance, as we could fall back on those granted to the Russians. If they were allowed to reside for a space of six months, others would be allowed to do the same.
Mr. RYRIE said that was so before. It would be better to ask what time would be allowed.
Mr. PYKE thought it would be best perhaps to ask how long the Russians were allowed to reside in the interior.
Mr. DELBANCO considered it better not to ask too many questions. If the Russians were allowed to stay in the interior, then we should be so also. He thought the letter of the Chamber was too comprehensive. As respected the Import of Shirtings, &c., this matter had already been taken up by the Bradford and Manchester Chambers of Commerce. There was one subject, however, which in Hongkong was especially important, namely, the increase in the Opium Duty, to which allusion should be made.
Mr. PYKE said it was certainly important that British subjects were not allowed to hang out their Hong names. Although no tax might be placed upon the goods, they would be imposed on the proprietor of the house.
Mr. DELBANCO observed that everywhere people had to conform to the taxes of the country.
Mr. PYKE replied that the duties were limited by Treaty, and could not, therefore, be with propriety exceeded.
In reply to Mr. DelbanCO, the CHAIRMAN stated that the Duty on Opium was to be Tls. 20 more than before.
Mr. BELILIOS could not see the justice of allowing the Chinese to put any tax they liked upon Opium, or why the trade in this article should not be guarded as well as that in other goods.
Mr. DELBANCO considered that taking notice...
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