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1. E. The Governor replied by telegraph & by post, (15/9/99,) that he would regret greatly if any mistake had been made by which the Chinese Government had been
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given to understand that no charge would be made by the Colony for collecting the Duties, (Mr Bax Ironside showed this was not the case in his telegram of 16/9/99,) But pointed out that as, under this new ordinance, the likelyhood of smuggling would be greatly decreased, & hence greater profits might be expected from the Duties, & taking into
consideration also that the Cost of collection should not
be very great, he would not press for the guarantee
demanded. (A Copy of the proposed amendments to the Bill,
embodying the suggestions of the Chamber of Commerce, was enclosed in this (Confidential) Despatch.)
The reply of the Chinese Government was received
in a despatch from the British Legation at Peking, dated
the 17th of October 1899. The Tsung li Yamen enclosed
certain proposals from Sir Robert Hart, which they endorsed,
& asked for a certain estimate as to the cost of collection.
Sir Robert art was favourably inclined to the proposed
changes, but added further suggestions as follows:
(1) The substitution of the words "the
original package as usually imported", for "the package
usually imported" in paragraph 2 of the original Ordinance,
in order to properly guard against the smuggling of
loose opium.
(2) Fishing boats should be included under the definition of ship in paragraph 2 of the original ('87)
Ordinance
(3) The exportation of boiled opium to China
should