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PROCLAMATION
OF
THE NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The increasingly deplorable economic condition of our people is due not only to the defects of our political institutions, but also externally to the limitations imposed by a conventional customs tariff in force since the past few decades, and internally to the oppressive system of likin, which has resulted in impeding the free circulation of goods and the development of industry. The Nationalist Government of the Republic of China, fully conscious and ever mindful of the heavy responsibility entrusted to it by the people, is profoundly convinced that unless the obnoxious system of likin and duties of a like nature he totally abolished, the economic development of the nation cannot be realized and the people cannot be relieved of their sufferings. The Nationalist Government is also convicced that the customs tariff contained in the unequal treaties is incompatible with a nation's sovereignty, and that tariff autonomy should immediately be put into force as an initial measure towards securing an equal status in the family of nations. In view of these considerations, it is decided to abolish the likin system and to proclaim China's tariff autonomy within the hortest possible period.
Likin was originally a kind of transit duty; it was instituted as numerous abuses have grown up in connection therewith, and the system has continued to the present day. a temporary measure, but gradually Furthermore, for the sake of revenue, the maladministration of former Governments has resulted in the setting up of rumerous sub-stations for levying all kinds of duties, similar in nature to likin, on all kinds of goods, a state of things which has brought untold hardship to merchants. Realizing that not only Chinese merchants, but foreign merchants as well, have suffered under the existing system of taxation to the detriment of the entire nation, the Nationalist Government has decided to eradicate this obnoxious fiscal regime, which has been in existence for the past few decades, thus realizing the earnest wish of Chinese and foreign merch ants. The abolition shall take effect in the six provinces of Kiangsu, Anhui, Chekiang, Fukien, Kwangtung and Kwangsi,and shall later be extended to the other provinces. All levies of whatever description that are in the nature of a transit duty, such as all native customs duties, tung-chuan, tung-shui, huo-wu-shui, railway huo. chuan, parcel post likin, transit dues in lieu of likin, coast-trade duty, duty on goods from one Chinese port to another, and all principal and miscellaneous levies which are in the nature of tax on goods in transit, shall,
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