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Comparison of
1918 and 1929
drafts of
agreement.
( 18 )
approved at the conference of the 19th, but also points on which agreement had been reached during the meetings of the committee. A second conference accordingly was held on Monday, 29th July, at which all the members of the first conference were present with the exception of Commander Hole, the Harbour Master, and Mr. G. S. Moss, the British Consul General at Canton. The conference went through the revised draft article by article, making several emendations and slight additions. Before closing, the Governor stated that, after further consideration, he had come to the conclusion that it would be inadvisable to include in the agreement a clause safeguarding against all eventualities the coastwise trading privileges of Hongkong vessels, and that therefore no such clause had been inserted. He also stated that he had arranged with the Inspector General that the exact location of the Chinese Customs stations to be opened in Hongkong territory, if the agreement became effective, would be settled by an exchange of notes having equal validity with the agreement. Further, he informed the Inspector General that the draft of the agreement as now revised by this second conference might be laid before the Chinese Government with the assurance that it was acceptable to the Hongkong Government, subject to the approval of the Imperial Government.
17. Apart from minor verbal alterations, a comparison of the 1918 and 1929* drafts reveals the following major differences;-
1918 DRAFT.
Agreement to be between the Govern- ment of His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the Republic of China.
ARTICLE II.
Salt to be taxed by the Hongkong Government.
1929 DRAFT.
Agreement to be between the Govern-
ment of the Republic of China and the Government of the Colony of Hongkong.
ARTICLE I.
Inclusion under (g) and (i) of clauses providing for punitive measures to be taken by the Hongkong Government on behalf of the Chinese Customs.
ARTICLE II.
No tax on salt to be levied by the Hongkong Government. Insertion of clause under (d) of punitive measures to be taken by the Hongkong Government on behalf of the Chinese Customs, acting for the Chinese Salt Revenue Department. Deletion of clause (i) of 1918 draft, which stipulated for supervision of salt when being moved from place to place in the Colony.
* Fide Appendix J.
1918 DRAFT.
ARTICLE IV.
( 19 )
Permits the Chinese Customs to open
one sub-office at Shamshuipo, or other place approved by the Hongkong Govern-
ment.
ARTICLE V.
Privilege under clause (a) limited to non-open ports in Kwangtung province.
Failure to report at Customs station made punishable by confiscation of launch and cargo (clause (ƒ)).
ARTICLE VI.
Applicable to non-open ports in Kwangtung province.
ARTICLE VII.
Applicable to treaty ports in the Liang Kwang provinces.
ARTICLE VIII.
Payment of duty in Hongkong on foreign goods for non-open ports permissive only.
ARTICLE IX.
Goods under Chinese Customs docu- ments in transit through Hongkong and landed there for future despatch must be bonded.
1929 DRAFT.
ARTICLE IV.
Permits the Chinese Customs to open a head office and sub-offices as required at places approved by the Hongkong Government, and permits Chinese Customs revenue vessels to patrol in the waters of the Colony.
ARTICLE V.
Privilege under clause (a) made appli- cable to non-open ports in China. Failure to report at Customs station made punish- able by fine not exceeding $10,000, leviable by Hongkong Government on behalf of Chinese Customs.
ARTICLE VI.
Applicable to non-open ports in China.
ARTICLE VIL Applicable to treaty ports in China.
ARTICLE VIII.
Payment of duty in Hongkong on foreign goods for non-open ports com- pulsory.
Inclusion of clause permitting pay- ment of duty in Hongkong on foreign goods destined for Chinese treaty ports after examination of such goods.
ARTICLE IX.
Chinese Customs may at its discretion waive bonding of goods under Chinese Customs documents in transit through Hongkong and landed there for future despatch.
Insertion of time limit for exemption certificate covering foreign goods landed for transhipment (clause (c)).
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