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ARTICLE V.
Steam or motor vessels duly registered by the Chinese Maritime Customs under the Inland Waters Steam Navigation Regulations may trade between Hong Kong and non-open ports subject to the following conditions:-
(a) The term non-open port" shall mean any non-treaty port upon the inland waterways of China and it shall include such non-treaty ports upon the sea coast of China as may from time to time be agreed upon between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Authorities.
() On each occasion of arrival at and departure from Hong Kong the master shall deposit his manifest in duplicate with the proper Hong Kong authorities who shall send one copy to the Commissioner of Customs.
(c) Upon application by the master the Chinese Maritime Customs shall grant a special pass for each trip, which special pass shall specify the destination of the vessel, the places at which it is proposed to call, and the Customs stations to be called at on both the outward and the return voyages. The vessel must proceed direct to the first Customs station specified on the pass.
(d) All vessels proceeding to non-open ports under this Article must call at the Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office agreed upon by the Government of Hong Kong where cargo and baggage will be examined and hatches may be sealed after loading. Dues may be paid at the master's option at such sub-office or at the station specified on the pass.
(c) On the return voyage from such ports vessels with their passengers and cargo must proceed to the Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office agreed upon by the Hong Kong Government for examination and payment of the necessary dues,
any, to such sub-office.
if
(ƒ) If any vessel plying between Hong Kong and non-open ports under this Article fails to report at the specified Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office on either the outward or the inward voyage the master shall upon summary conviction at the prosecution of the Hong Kong Government be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.
(g) Steam and motor vessels plying between Hong Kong and non-open ports under this Article shall receive and convey free of charge matter issued by or addressed to Chinese Post Officos. Other mail matter shall not be conveyed by them. British vessels accorded under this Agreement the privilege of plying in inland waters in the Canton Delta shall undertake to accept and carry all mails either originating at Chinese Post Offices or consigned to them, and to carry no other mails to or from places in such watera.
A schedule of certain places in the Liang Kwang Provinces recognised by the Chinese Authorities at the time of the conclusion of this Agreement as non-open ports is annexed to this Agreement.
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ARTICLE VI.
Junks and lighters registered by the Chinese Maritime Customs may be towed between Hong Kong and non-open ports as defined in Article V by steam or motor vessels duly registered by the Chinese Maritime Customs under the Inland Waters Steam Navigation Regulations; and in that case such junks, lighters, and other vessels will be treated as junks under sail and will be required to conform to the rules governing junk traffic, and the procedure prescribed in Article V of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII.
Lighters towed by steam or motor vessels to treaty ports in China may have their hatches sealed by the Chinese Maritime Customs prior to departure and such vessels may then proceed direct to their destination. The Chinese Maritime Customs reserve the right to require the launch to call at a Customs station en route for search.
ARTICLE VIII.
Foreign goods carried by steam or motor vessels, or by junks or lighters, registered as in Articles V and VI, clearing from Hong Kong for non-open ports as defined in Article V, shall acquit themselves of import duty before departure, and may, if so desired, acquit themselves also of transit dues and be granted transit passes. Report for Customs purposes must be made at the Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office agreed upon by the Hong Kong Government. All vessels carrying transit pass cargo will be subject to the usual rules as to call at the Customs stations specified on the pass. Foreign goods carried by steam or motor vessels clearing from Hong Kong for treaty ports may also, subject to examination, acquit themselves of import duty before departure.
ARTICLE IX.
Goods, whether Chinese or foreign, passing through the Colony under Chinese Customs documents from one treaty port in China to another, shall maintain their original status and shall receive the benefit of their original Customs documents at the port of destination, subject to the following conditions:-
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(a) The Chinese Maritime Customs shall be given full facilities for supervising goods in transit without landing or transhipment during such period as such goods remain within the waters of the Colony.
(b) Goods landed pending transmission by sea or by railway and goods brought by railway for transmission by sea shall be placed in such bonded warehouses as may be agreed upon between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Maritime Customs. In cases, however, where goods are securely packed so as to be capable of being suitably sealed if necessary, are marked with a distinctive mark for each consignment, and are numbered in such as to be easily identifiable, the Customs Authorities may, at their discretion, waive the obligation of such goods to be placed in a bonded warehouse.
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