Frontier Line.
Frontier Line.
Cession of Mung Lem and Kiang Hung to China.
Delimitation Commission,
ARTICLE III
[The Shweli to the Mekong.]
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From the junction of the Namwan and Shweli the frontier shall follow the northern boundary of the State of North Hsinwi, as at present constituted, to the Salween, leaving to China the loop of the Shweli River and almost the whole of Wanting, Mong-ko, and Mong-ka.
Starting from the point where the Shweli turns northward near Namwan, i.e., from its junction with the Namyang, the frontier shall ascend this latter stream to its source in the Mong-ko Hills in about latitude 24° 7′ and longitude 98° 15', thence continue along a wooded spur to the Salween at its junction with the Namoi stream. The line shall then ascend the Salween till it meets the north-west boundary of Kokang, and shall continue along the eastern frontier of Kokang till it meets the Kunlong circle, leaving the whole circle of Kunlong to Great Britain.
The frontier shall then follow the course of the river forming the boundary between Somu, which belongs to Great Britain, and Mêng Ting, which belongs to China. It shall still continue to follow the frontier between those two districts, which is locally well known, to where it leaves the aforesaid river and ascends the hills; and shall then follow the line of water-parting between the tributaries of the Salween and the Mekong Rivers, from about longitude 99° east of Greenwich (17° 30′ west of Peking), and latitude 23° 20', to a point about longitude 99° 40′ east of Greenwich (16° 50′ west of Peking), and latitude 23°, leaving to China the Tsawbwa-ships of Kêng Ma, Mengtung, and Mengko.
At the last-named point of longitude and latitude the line strikes a very lofty mountain range, called Kong-Ming-Shan, which it shall follow in a southerly direction to about longitude 99°30′ east of Greenwich (17° west of Peking), and latitude 22° 30′, leaving to China the district of Chen-pien Ting. Then, descending the western slope of the hills to the Namka River, it will follow the course of that river for about 10 minutes of latitude, leaving Munglem to China and Manglün to Great Britain.
The frontier shall then follow the boundary between Munglem and Kiang Tong, which is locally well known, diverging from the Namka River a little to the north of latitude 22°, in a direction somewhat south of east, and generally following the crest of the hills till it strikes the Namlam River in about latitude 21° 45′ and longitude 100° east of Greenwich (16° 30′ west of Peking).
It shall then follow the boundary between Kiang Tong and Kiang Hung, which is generally formed by the Namlam River, with the exception of a small strip of territory belonging to Kiang Hung, which lies to the west of that river just south of the last-named parallel of latitude. On reaching the boundary of Western Kyaing Chaing, in about latitude 21° 27′ and longitude 100° 12′ east of Greenwich (16° 18′ west of Peking), the frontier shall follow the boundary between that district and Kiang Hung until it reaches the Mekong River.
ARTICLE IV.
It is agreed that the settlement and delimitation of that portion of the frontier which lies to the north of latitude 25° 35′ north shall be reserved for a future understanding between the High Contracting Parties when the features and condition of the country are more accurately known.
ARTICLE V.
It is agreed that China will not cede to any other nation either Mung Lem or any part of Kiang Hung on the right bank of the Mekong, or any part of Kiang Hung now in her possession on the left bank of that river, without previously coming to an arrangement with Great Britain.
ARTICLE VI.
Article VI of the original Convention shall be held to be modified as follows:- It is agreed that, in order to avoid any local contention, the alignments of the frontier described in the present Agreement shall be verified and demarcated, and, in event of their being found defective at any point, rectified by a Joint Commission appointed by the Governments of Great Britain and China, and that the said Commission shall meet, at a place hereafter to be determined by the two Governments, not later than twelve months from the date of the signature of the present Agreement, and shall terminate its labours in not more than three years from the date of its first meeting.
If a strict adherence to the line described would intersect any districts, tribal territories, towns, or villages, the Boundary Commission shall be empowered to modify the line on the basis of mutual concessions. If the members of the Commission are unable to agree on any point, the matter of disagreement shall at once be referred to their respective Governments.
ARTICLE VII.
It is agreed that any posts belonging to either country which may be stationed within the territory of the other when the Commission of Delimitation shall have brought its labours to a conclusion, shall, within eight months from the date of such conclusion, be withdrawn, and their places occupied by the troops of the other, mutual notice having in the meantime been given of the precise date at which the withdrawal and occupation will take place. From the date of such occupation the High Contracting Parties shall, each within its own territories, hold itself responsible for the maintenance of good order, and for the tranquillity of the tribes inhabiting them.
The High Contracting Parties further engage neither to construct nor to maintain within 10 English miles from the nearest point of the common frontier, measured in a straight line and horizontal projection, any fortifications or permanent camps, beyond such posts as are necessary for preserving peace and good order in the frontier districts.
ARTICLE VIII.
Subject to the conditions mentioned hereafter in Articles X and XI, the British Government, wishing to encourage and develop the land trade of China with Burmah as much as possible, consent, for a period of six years from the ratification of the present Convention, to allow Chinese produce and manufactures, with the exception of salt, to enter Burmah by land duty free, and to allow British manufactures and Burmese produce, with the exception of rice, to be exported to China by land free of duty.
The duties on salt and rice so imported and exported shall not be higher than those imposed on their import or export by sea.
ARTICLE IX.
Pending the negotiation of a more complete arrangement, and until the development of the trade shall justify the establishment of other frontier Customs' stations, goods imported from Burmah into China, or exported from China into Burmah, shall be permitted to cross the frontier by Manwyne and by Sansi.
With a view to the development of trade between China and Burmah, the Chinese Government consent that for six years from the ratification of the present Convention the duties levied on goods imported into China by these routes shall be those specified in the General Tariff of the Maritime Customs diminished by three-tenths, and that the duties on goods exported from China by the same route shall be those specified in the same Tariff diminished by four-tenths.
Transit passes for imports and exports shall be granted in accordance with the rules in force at the Treaty ports.
Smuggling, or the carrying of merchandise through Chinese territory by other routes than those sanctioned by the present Convention, shall, if the Chinese authorities think fit, be punished by the confiscation of the merchandise concerned.
In addition to the Manwyne and Sansi routes sanctioned by the Convention of 1894, the Governments of Great Britain and China agree that any other routes, the opening of which the Boundary Commissioners may find to be in the interests of trade, shall be sanctioned on the same terms as those mentioned above.
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