(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18446]
No. 1.
438
22738
[Mar 29.]
SECTION 1:
IRES: 25 JUN 06
Question asked in the House of Commons, May 28, 1906.
Mr. F. E. Smith,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, under what authority the li-kin duty at Mukden upon goods has been increased from 1 to 5 per cent.; and whether His Majesty's Government has assented to the increase.
Answer.
The honourable Member no doubt refers to the tax on the sale of cigarettes, amounting to about 5 per cent., which retail dealers in tobacco have to pay. It was imposed by the Chinese Administration at Mukden.
Li-kin is an internal tax to which the assent of His Majesty's Government is not required, and with regard to which they cannot intervene unless there is any discrimination against British goods.
[1981 ee-1]