}
No. 3.
Sir C. Macdonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received July 11.)
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(No. 91.) My Lord,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 63 of the 11th ultimo, I have the honour to
Peking, May 23, 1898. ) transmit herewith copy of an extract from an Intelligence Report which I have received from Her Majesty's Consul at Chungking, showing the probable increase to the revenue of China which would accrue from a proper and honest management of the li-kin and salt taxation in the Province of Ssuch'uan.
Ssuch'uan is not one of the districts in which the li-kin and salt taxes have been set apart for foreign collection by the terms of the recent Anglo-German Loan.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
Inclosure in No. 3.
Extract from Chungking Intelligence Report for the Quarter ending April 30, 1898.
Native Li-kin.-The handing over of the down-river li-kin and salt tax to the Customs has been much discussed here. It is much to be desired that it should be extended to this province, where li-kin requires drastic reforms. The Kuri Fu li-kin yields about 200,000 taels a-year to the Government, and it is said about three times that sum to the private pockets of the officials. The Tsu Lin Ching salt gives a revenue of 2,500,000 taels, which could easily be quadrupled by good management and the introduction of simple machinery.
GEORGE J. L. LITTON,
(Signed)
Chungking, April 30, 1898,
No. 4.
Acting Consul.
(No. 92.) My Lord,
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury-(Received July 11.)
Peking, May 23, 1898. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith to your Lordship copy of extracts from an Intelligence Report which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Chin-
3
kiang reporting a phenomenal decrease in the transit-pass trade at that port, and also giving further particulars of the new line of Japanese steamers on the Yang-tsze, the commencement of which enterprise I reported to your Lordship in my despatch No. 15 of the 25th January last.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
Inclosure in No. 4.
Extracts from Chinkiang Intelligence Report for the Quarter ending March 31, 1898.
Decrease of Transit Trade.-The transit trade during this quarter decreased in a phenomonal manner.
This is due in a measure to the China New Year holidays, but more especially to the general excitement and spirit of unrest at present prevailing. The total number of transit passes for the conveyance of goods from the interior was only 129, as compared with 1,600 applied for at this Consulate during the previous quarter. I am informed that trade at Chinkiang has never before been at such a low ebb.
New Line of Steam-ships.-Early in January a new line of steamers was started on the river under the Japanese flag, and owned by the Osaka Mercantile Steam-ship Com- paay. Only two small coast steamers are running at present, but I hear their place will be taken by ships which are being specially built at Osaka for the navigation of the river. This line is worked by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail), and the agency here is held by a British firm.
Chiakiang, April 30, 1898.
(Signed) HUBERT L. HIGGS,
Acting Consul.
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