Articles the Administration will have to defray the actual out-payments to the different countries in Europe.
"Should the land lines of the Administration be interrupted for more than sixty days during the said period, then the Administration shall pay to the Companies 4 fr. 25 c. per word for all such traffic as during the additional term of such interruption passes via the cables of the Companies.
"Art. 6. If the traffic described in Article 4 be transmitted over the land lines of the Administration, the Administration shall not charge for such transmission, provided that the cables of the Companies be not interrupted for more than sixty days during any one foreign calendar year. Out of the Companies' proportion mentioned in the preceding Articles, the Companies will have to defray the actual out-payments to the different countries in Europe.
"Should the cables of the Companies be interrupted for more than sixty days during the said period, then the terminal rate, namely, 5 fr. 50 c., of such traffic as during the additional term of such interruption passes over the land lines of the Administration other than the Shanghae-Woosung and the Foochow-Sharp Peak connections, shall belong to the Administration.
"Art. 7. The Administration shall fix a transit rate of 5 fr. 50 c. per word for traffic transiting China by the land lines of the Administration, exchanged between Europe and countries beyond Europe on the one side, and all foreign countries on the other side, and vice versa.
"Art. 8. The preceding Articles do not apply to Chinese Government telegrams, which shall belong exclusively to the Administration if transmitted by their land lines.
"If Chinese Government telegrams be transmitted by the cables of the Companies they shall be charged according to the regular tariff.
"Government telegrams are those which emanate from the Board of Admiralty, the Tsung-li Yamên, the Viceroys and Governors of provinces, Commanders-in-chief of land and sea forces, Ministers, and Diplomatic and Consular Agents of China. Also the replies to such telegrams.
"Government telegrams should bear the seal or stamp of the authority that sends them.
"Art. 9. The tariffs and payments named in Articles 1 to 8 shall not be changed except by the mutual consent of the Administration and the Companies, and the approval of the Ministers for Great Britain, Denmark, and China.
"Art. 10. For the purpose mentioned in Articles 5 and 6 the land lines of the Administration and the cables of the Companies shall be deemed to be interrupted for the number of days during which the said land lines or cables shall be unable to transmit in twenty-four hours a test message to Shanghae respectively as follows:-
"By the land lines: From any of the frontier stations of the Administration connected with the telegraph lines of adjacent countries in telegraphic communication with Europe.
"By the cables: From either Vladivostock, Madras, or Rangoon, provided that in case the test message should be accidentally lost or delayed during transmission, but the ordinary traffic shall be regularly transmitted, the land lines or cables shall not be deemed to be interrupted on such days by reason of the failure of the test message.
"Art. 11. Regular accounts of the traffic named in Articles 1 to 8 shall be kept by the Administration as well as by the Companies at Shanghae, Foochow, Amoy, and Hong Kong.
"Abstracts of such accounts shall be made up at the end of every foreign calendar month, and checked and verified by and between the officers of the Administration and the Companies at the said stations within twenty-one days after the end of the month in account, and within a further period of twenty-one days such monthly accounts shall be settled and paid at Shanghae in Mexican dollars. The rate of exchange between Mexican dollars and francs, both in collecting charges from the public and in settling accounts between the Administration and the Companies, shall be fixed at 4 fr. 25 c. equal to 1 dollar, which rate of exchange shall not be altered except by mutual consent of the Administration and the Companies.
"Art. 12. The Administration shall be entitled to have checking clerks in the Companies' offices at Shanghae, Foochow, Amoy, and Hong Kong, and the Companies shall be entitled to have checking clerks in the Administration's offices at Shanghae, Foochow, Amoy, and Hong Kong. These checking clerks shall have access to all telegrams, journals, and accounts referring to the traffic named in Articles 1 to 8.
"Art. 13. The Administration, as well as the Companies, shall do all in their power to prevent retransmission at cheaper rates than the through rates by telegram agencies or private senders of the traffic named in Articles 1 to 8 to the detriment of either party.
"Art. 14. The existing local coast traffic rates of the Administration and the Companies between Shanghae, Foochow, Amoy, and Hong Kong shall not be changed without the mutual consent of the Administration and the Companies.
"These rates are per word :—
Foreign Telegrams. Chinese Telegrams. Between Shanghae and Foochow 23 Centimes. 15 Centimes. Shanghae and Amoy 33 Centimes. 15 Centimes. Shanghae and Hong Kong 14 Centimes. 19 Centimes. Foochow and Hong Kong 33 Centimes. 13 Centimes. Foochow and Amoy 33 Centimes. 10 Centimes. Amoy and Hong Kong 33 Centimes. 12 Centimes."Art. 15. All present terminal rates charged the Companies by the Administration on the Shanghae-Woosung land line and on the Foochow-Sharp Peak land line, as well as the present terminal rates charged the Administration by the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited) on the Kowloon-Hong-Kong connection, shall be abolished for the term of this Agreement.
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