((8)
(2.) That this Station should collect from junks the Tariff duty on imports going in them to treaty ports, and Tariff duty and half on imports taken in them to points on the Coast or up rivers, not treaty ports.
(3.) That the tax upon opium should be levied with the same lekin as it would pay at Canton.
(4.) That every junk arriving or leaving should call at the new Station and get a clearance; the Colonial Government assisting in some way.
37. The undersigned ventures to think that, as the Chinese have a complete right by international law to keep the Stations where they are, the Colony should not trouble itself further about their removal, but should seek to have their administration made more honest, and a better class of officers and men appointed to the Cruisers.
38. Probably, therefore, a modified form of Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON'S Basis might meet the views of the Mercantile Community of Hongkong, and the Hongkong and the Chinese Governments, thus:-
(1.) With regard to the collection of duties and War-tax, Salt-tax, Hoi-fong, or any other kind of duty on junks or other Chinese Craft entering and clearing from Hongkong, it is proposed that the Viceroy of the Two Kwang should in conjunction with the Hoppo of Canton appoint two fitting persons as his deputies, one a Chinese and one an Englishman, to superintend the collection, and that a Customs Station be established in a convenient place near British Kan-lung to collect dues, and issue clearances and receipts, whether on Native exports from China or Foreign imports from Hongkong.
(2.) That masters of Junks may appeal to these deputies against any hardship they have to complain of, and that their complaints shall be at once investigated.
(3.) After the establishment of the new Station all junks clearing from Hongkong with cargo shall hand in manifests to and pay duty at the new Station, and shall receive clearances; the junk shall then be examined at Kap-shui Mun, Fat-tau Mun, or Ch'eung-chau, to see that the cargo corresponds with the manifest, unless such examination is dispensed with under written authority, where a guarantee has been given against smuggling.
(4.) That, assuming the said three Stations are retained, all unsecured junks coming to Hongkong shall stop at one or other of the Stations for examination and payment of export dues from the Chinese port of departure if such are unpaid, but no dues shall be demanded from Junks coming to Hongkong from Chinese ports save such export duties as are payable at the respective ports of clearance.
(N.B.--This is to prevent Hongkong being treated as a port of China).
(5.) That all Revenue Cruisers of every description, whether steamers or sailing craft, shall be entirely under the jurisdiction of the new duty Station, and shall be supplied with a special flag, and their crews dressed in a special uniform. Any junk they capture must be forwarded to the new duty Station that the case may be examined into by the two Deputies, who will publicly inquire whether she is guilty of smuggling or not, and duly record the proceedings.
(6.) If, after a seizure has been effected by the new Station, a complaint is lodged with the Hongkong Authorities, or if the Junk belongs to Hongkong, in which event, notice shall be given to the Hongkong Government by the Station, it shall be competent for the Colonial Government to appoint an officer to proceed to the Station to make inquiries, and in conjunction with the deputy or deputies, to summon witnesses and jointly investigate the matter and settle it on a fair basis. If the Hongkong Official cannot agree with the officer or officers of the new Station, each must report the matter to the Hongkong Government and Viceroy respectively, with a view to settlement through the medium of the British Consul at Canton. The decision in every case shall be recorded and published.
(7.) There shall be published a tariff of all dues and duties leviable on goods exported or imported in Chinese junks, and at what other places and to whom to be paid, besides the new Customs Station.
(8.) That no duties shall be levied by any monopolist, such as that of coast defences, but only by responsible Officials of the Chinese Government under the new duty Station; and that if it is proved that either illegal or excessive duties have been levied by the Officials at any collectorate, the Chinese Government will refund, and dismiss or otherwise punish the offenders.
(9.) The Chinese Government should also guarantee that no further levies shall be made at the port of destination after obtaining the "Grand Chop" and that any official demanding extra dues at the port of entry shall be punished.
(10.) The Hongkong Government will undertake on its part to give all the support it can to assist the Chinese Government in giving effect to these rules for obtaining its legitimate revenue, but it cannot permit the capture in or carrying away of any Junks from its waters.
39. It will be seen that I suggest that all taxes should be collected at the new duty Station, and that the Englishman should not be subordinate to, but of co-ordinate rank with the Chinese deputy. I think these are necessary changes in Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON's first requirement. As to the 3rd proposal, it is now the custom for certain well-known trading junks to be guaranteed, and they are thus allowed to pass the Stations without coming to. The 4th proposal is a combination of the 3rd and 4th propositions of the Hongkong Basis. The 5th gives effect to the views of Sir Arthur KENNEDY and Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON. The 6th is a combination of Sir BROOKE's and the Hongkong Government 6th proposals. The 7th is most essential. The 8th and 9th proposals should be strongly pressed, otherwise any agreement to have duties collected at the new Station would be simply agreeing to pay so much more. How the Government will assist is a matter of detail, but it has the machinery ready, and only requires a short declaratory Ordinance to apply it.
Hongkong, 26th August, 1883.
J. RUSSELL
Ace
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