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PERING, January 4th, 1894. SIR,-l the speech with which your Excellency opened the Legislative Session on the 4th December, and of which you were good enough to send me a copy, I notice that you refer to the proferential anties granted on junk- carried tea at Canton to the detriment of British mercantile interesta.
The statistics bearing on this question seem to leave little doubt that such duties are granted, and I have not failed to represent the matter to the Tsung-li Yamên. The Chinese Government has, however, replied that they are informed by their highest authorities that no such treatment as I havÖ complained of is given to native crafts, and that moreover they have enjoined upon the Viceroy the illegality of such treatment.
Under these circumstances it is of vital importance that I should be able to establish by positive proof the existence of the abuse which has formed the subject for complaint, and accordingly I should be very grateful if your Excellency's Govemment could at any time furnish me with such precise information as would enable me to accomplish this end.-I have, &c.,
His Excellency Sir WILLIAM Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
&c.,
HONGBONG.
e.,
N. R. O'CONOR.
SIR,
C. O.
7334
29 FRG,
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 1st September, 1894.
It is with considerable regret that this Obamber has to return to the subject of "differential duties" in favour of the junk trade between Canton aud this Port that has occupied its attention during the last three years and which the Chamber was compelled to bring under the personal notice of Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 1st December, 1891.
To save troublesome references and to put your Lordship in possession of the full facts and history of the case, you will find enclosed a printed copy of all the details that have come under the notice of this Chamber in connection with this long standing grievance of the shipping interests of this Colony.
I beg to point out that the Chinese Authorities have most distinctly admitted their illegal action, and, in August 1892, consequent upon the strong representations made, at the instigation of Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, by Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Peking to the Taung-li Yamen the objectionable system was partially abolished and a return to the normal traffic, as regards Tea, was established consequent upon an equal levy of duties upon that article whether shipped by junk or steamer.
This relief was, however, of short duration, for on the 13th July, 1893, the old illegal order was re-established by the Chinese Authorities in Canton, and since that date up till now only a few packages of tea have been brought to Hongkong by steamers, with these few trifling exceptiona the entire trade has reverted to junks.
Your Lordship will observe this complaint refers to tea only, but other articles of produce receive similar favoured treatment if shipped by junk, and the number thus dealt with has increased, and will no doubt further increase, from what it was three years ago owing to the impunity with which the Chinese Authorities are able to break Treaty obligations. Exports from Hongkong to Canton by junk are also receiving privileged treatment to induce the traffic to go in Native bottoms.
It is particularly noticeable at this second stage of the complaints that the Chinese Authorities both in Peking and Canton most distinctly asseverate that no preferential duties are now grauted to junk-carried tea from Canton, and a new phase is imported by Her Britannic Majesty's Minister nt Peking who asks for specific proofs that such is not the case, by the production by the complainants of actual instances of the differential levies. As pointed out by the Chamber in the enclosed correspondence it is impossible to produce nativo evidence-the only proof that could be adduced against the action of their own officials. This must be self-evident to any one with but slight knowledge of the Chiuese. Besides, the tortuous way in which the perferential duties may be levied, either by specific reductions, drawbacks, allowances in weight, values, or classification, makes it doubly difficult for foreigners to follow the devious methods that must be employed to hoodwink the higher officials who are assured, and repeat their belief to Her Britannic Majesty's Officials, both in the North and South, that no such malpractices occur,
A strong light is thrown upon the system when Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking informs Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as is stated in the Foreign Office letter to this Chamber dated 29th May, 1802:--
"The Viceroy had added that if any irregularities were still practiced, they must be due
"to unauthorised action on the part of the Hoppo's subordinates."
Here is an admission that irregularities may exist without the knowledge of the higher officials, such irregularities this Chamber maintains now occur. For exactly the same set of circumstances produces the same result. Complaint is made that breaches of Treaty occur, after a
The Right Honourable
THE EARL OF Rosebery, K.G.,
dc.,
&c.,
&c.,
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Office, Lundon.