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numbered paragraphs what, in my opinion, will be necessary in and around Hong Kong and its new territory to safeguard the revenue interests of China, a task which will be made, in consequence of the increased area to be looked after, both onerous and expensive.
The proposals are made in the belief that Her Majesty's Government desire to give China liberal and sustained support in the protection of her revenue in that neighbourhood.
1. The right of the Chinese Customs to maintain its office in Hong Kong, where it is now only unofficially acknowledged, ought to be formally admitted, and the status of the Commissioner of Customs as a Chinese official recognised.
The existing sub-stations at Changchow, Capsuimoon, Lai-chee-kok, and Fotochow ought to be maintained as at present, although they are in the leased territory. If it should be found that other stations are required they may be instituted,
2. The Chinese Customs at Hong Kong shall have the right there to collect duty and li-kin on any opium and similarly dues and duties on general cargo shipped on any native vessel to or from China, The Customs ought also to have the right to one or more special jetties in proximity to junk anchorages at which cargo may be examined and verified.
3. The Chinese Customs cruisers and launches may continue to exercise their functions within the waters of the leased territory.
4. No opium, raw or boiled, shall be landed or stored, taken delivery of, or shipped in Hong Kong, British Kowloon, or any of the leased territory without a permit to be issued by a Colonial authority. Opium moved without permit, or found anywhere or in any quantity in contravention of Colonial Ordinance shall be confiscated.
5. The opium farm, ie, an official establishment with an exclusive right to retail (only boiled) opium, shall be maintained, and the Ordinances Nos. 22 of 1887, and 21 of 1891, con- cerning opium movement, etc., shall be confirmed and amended to meet the new circumstances, and to make good those points on which they are insufficient.
The boiling establishment of the farm, its retailing shops, and its books and accounts shall be open at any time to the inspection of an officer of the Chinese Customs specially deputed for that purpose.
6. All Ordinances regarding the possession, movement, preparation, or sale of opium in the Colony and its waters, afloat and ashore, shall be rigidly enforced by the Colonial Executives, and its officers rewarded from proceeds of seizures with a view to encouraging zeal.
All proceeds of sale of confiscated goods shall be divided equally between the Chinese and Colonial Governments.
7. No army, munitions of war, or contraband goods may be shipped on any vessel proceeding to a Chinese port in Hong Kong or its waters, without a permit issued or countersigned by the Chinese Customs.
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8. The Hong Kong Government shall pass such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above provisions.
The above-numbered paragraphs are put forward merely to represent what I consider it proper should be done at Hong Kong to meet Chinese revenue requirements. I may, however, express the opinion that the system it provides for, and more especially the recognised presence of a fully authorised Chinese Customs at Hong Kong, gives promise of enabling measures to be taken which will make the working of the West River trade, especially at those places of call to seawards of the first port (Samshui) considerably easier than at present; also, of securing arrangements which might facilitate the trade anticipated to grow up under the new inland steam navigation rules. In both respects anything which may be possible-and without a custom-house I do not see that much will be possible--is sure to redound to the commercial advantage of the Colony as well as of the Chinese trade. On this point, however, the occasion does not call upon me to say more at present.
MY LORD,
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
ROBERT HART, Inspector General of Customs.
No. 381.
London Chamber of Commerce to the Marquess of Salisbury.
LONDON, November 11, 1898.
I am directed to inform you that the East India and China Trade Section of this Chamber had under its consideration at its last meeting a communication from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, dealing at length with the terms of the Anglo-Chinese Convention to secure an extension of the boundaries of Hong Kong, signed at Peking on the 9th June last, and which have been made public, and regarding which the Hong Kong Chamber have, I understand, made representations to Her Majesty's Government.
The Hong Kong Chamber take strong objection to the clause of the Convention which provides that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, and that the existing landing-place near that city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese vessels.
This is regarded as tantamount to having a foreign authority exercising jurisdiction in British territory, and to the establishment of a Chinese port within Hong Kong Harbour for the use of Chinese war-vessels and Customs-cruisers, a position absolutely without parallel.
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