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HONGKONG, 20th August, 1892. DEAR SIR, In reply to your favour of the 5th instant, enquiring into the result of representations of the Chamber of Commerce to the Foreign Office, with regard to the levying of differential duties in favour of native junks, we beg to state that, so far as we are concerned, the only effect has been to divert a very small portion of the Tea trade to our Steamers.
Other Cargo, however, such as Rattans, Matting, Preserves, Cassia, &c., owing to differential duties in favour of untive craft, is still kept back from our vessels. We are, &c.,
ADAM LIND, Esq.,
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE.
Acting Secretary, HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
FOREIGN OFFICE, May 29th, 1892. SIB, I am directed by the Marquess of SALISBURY to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th ultimo, respecting the differential duties levied by the Hoppo of Canton.
I am to request that you will inform your Chamber that Her Majesty's Minister at Peking brought this subject verbally before the Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên at an interview with them on the 18th of March last. He represented that this inequality of taxation was opposed to the spirit of the treaties between Foreign Powers and China, and claimed that the native tariff could not, as regarded produce carried coastwise between treaty ports or between a treaty port and a foreign country, be so manipulated as to place native vessels on a more favourable footing thau foreign vessels.
The Chinese Ministers admitted that the action of the Hoppo had been irregular, and stated that they had already written to the Government of Canton on the subject. Ouly a few days previously they had received a telegram from the Viceroy, stating, on the authority of the Hoppo, that the reduction in the native tariff no longer existed.
The Viceroy had added that if any irregularities were still practised, they must be due to unauthorized action on the part of the Hoppo's sub- ordinates.
The Viceroy had asked that official to exercise strict supervision over their conduct, and the Ministers hoped for a speedy removal of the abusos complained of.-I am, &c.,
T. H. SANDERSON.
E. MACKINTOSH, Esq., Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
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HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
HONGKONG, 31st October, 1892.
MY LORD,I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Foreign Office, dated the 29th May last, and written under the instructions of bis Lordship the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, in reply to a letter from this Chamber dated the 6th April last respecting the differential duties on Tea levied by the Hoppo of Canton.
My Committee learns with satisfaction that Her Majesty's Minister at Peking brought this subject verbally before the Minister of the Tsung-li Yamên at an interview with them on the 18th March last, when Sir JOHN WALSHAM represented that this inequality of taxation was opposed to the spirit of the Treaties between Foreign Powers and China, and claimed that the native tariff could not, as regarded produce carried coastwise between Treaty Ports or between a Treaty Port and a Foreign country, be so manipulated as to place Chinese vessels on a more favourable footing thau Foreign vessels. My Committee notes that at this interview the Chinese Ministers admitted that the action of the Hoppo had been irregular and staled that they had already written to the Government of Canton on the subject; that only a few days previously they had received a telegram from the Viceroy stating on the authority of the Hoppo that the reduction in the native tariff no longer existed the Viceroy having added that if any irregularities were still practised. they must be due to unauthorized action on the part of the Hoppo's subordinates.
Lord SALISBURY further caused this Chamber to be informed that the Canton Viceroy had asked the Hoppo there to exercise strict supervision over their conduct, and that the Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên at Peking hope for a speedy removal of the abuses complained of.
My Committee is happy to report that the representatious of Her Majesty's Minister at Peking to the Tsung-li Yamên on the subject of this inequality of taxation opposed to the spirit of the Treaties between Foreigo Powers and China have resulted in the removal, for the present, of the abuses complained of.-I have, &c.,
To The Right Honourable
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY,
ADAM LIND, Acting Secretary.
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c., Foreign Office, London.
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