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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
C.O.
882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC.
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
issue such instructions as will render the collection of their Customs revenue in the vicinity of the Colony as little vexatious as possible to the Government of this Colony. The unscrupulous conduct of the petty officers in charge of these cruizers and of the neighbouring stations, brings the method of the collection of duties by the Chinese Government into disrepute; and more good would result from bringing pressure to bear on the Provincial Government at Canton towards reforming the existing system, especially in the appointment of officials of a higher class, and of more responsibility, than any application to the authorities at the Imperial but far-distant City of Peking.
8. Nevertheless, the Government of this Colony and the community is more con- cerned at the further proposed remedy for the evils which have been so ably explained in Mr. Herbert's letter of March 3, to the Foreign Office; and I venture, very respectfully, to express a sincere hope that your Lordship will hesitate to sanction the appointment of a Chinese Consul to reside at this port, until an opportunity has been given to my Council and myself to submit our opinions upon the nature of the duties which he is to perform. Your Lordship states that the appointment in question is a proposal of Mr. Wade, Her Majesty's Minister at Peking; but, as far as I am aware, that proposal emanated from Sir Rutherford Alcock; while Mr. Wade has advocated the establishment here of a branch of the Foreign Inspectorate of Customs, to collect duties on articles exported in junks.
9. It will be readily understood that there is a vast difference between these two suggestions, the former advocated by Sir Rutherford Alcock alone (as far as is at present known) and opposed by every one else possessing local knowledge and acquaintance with Chinese officials; the latter originally recommended by an officer of this Government and now supported by Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy, with whose opinion I concur.
16. However, before dealing at all fully with the bearings of the question I desire to learn Mr. Wade's views, and I have, therefore, transmitted to him a copy of the Parlia mentary Paper on the subject, with a request that he will favour me with them. Meanwhile I have only to reiterate my hope that the matter may remain in abeyance until your Lordship has had under consideration whatever may be submitted for discussion, inasmuch as the proposition has taken the Government and the community by surprise, after the decision of Her Majesty's Government in 1869.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Administrator.
Inclosure in No. 1.
The "San Tung Li" Junk Case.
ON the 24th November, 1874, the "Sang Tung Li" junk, a vessel trading between Hong Kong and Sham Chun (in the Canton River) had sailed from Sham Chun to Kap Shui Mun (entrance to Canton River) laden with a general cargo of pigs, fowls, sugar, etc. At this place she was stopped by a Chinese cruizer, commanded by two foreigners. She was detained four days and eventually released, with the loss, however, of the sugar and of a few ducks.
The Registrar-General, who forwarded the petition containing the above facts, remarked that the junk was a regular trader and was supplied with a special licence. She had often before brought down raw sugar but had never had to pay duty. The junk had been running backwards and forwards for seven or eight years.
The matter was thereupon reported to Her Majesty's Consul in letter of 2nd December, 1874, and the document forwarded therewith was eventually returned by him without comment.
The Search of a Vessel near Stonecutter's Island.
On the 4th March, 1875, the harbour-master reported in C.S.O. No. 688, that on the 26th February a fishing boat numbered 2,138 H, while in the waters of the Colony, had been searched when a short distance from Stonecutter's Island by a Mandarin junk lying of Sham Shui Po just outside British jurisdiction. Some catties of fish had been taken out of the boat when searched. The vessel making the search contained eleven men in uniform and flew the Chinese flag. It was witnessed by Mr. Mather of the Gunpowder Depôt.
This was reported to Her Majesty's Consul in letter of the 11th March, 1875. He replied to the effect that the Viceroy, after making inquiries, had ascertained from the * No. 6 of Command Paper [C. 1189], April 1875.
Chinese officers that they had not cruised in Hong Kong waters, nor had they been squeezing fishermen.
The decision of the Viceroy was recommended to be accepted by Her Majesty's Consul as a good deal of trouble had been occasioned to those complained against, and the loss sustained by the fishermen had only been very small.
No further action taken.
The Wing Cheung Lung" Junk.
The petitioner in this case, whose name Kwong-Tsz-San, of the Man Wo Tseung Shop, and who has been carrying on the business of commission agent in this Colony for some years, stated that on the 26th of March the above-named junk was making a return trip to Lui-Chau with a cargo of cotton. She first proceeded in the direction of Cheung Chau, in order to pay the regular duty, and she had got all ready the account, sales, invoice, and manifest. The weather, however, was so bad that she was driven to Yung Shu Wan in Hong Kong, instead of getting to Cheung Chau.
Here she was stopped and seized by a revenue junk under a charge of smuggling, and the junk, with her cargo and manifest, were sent up to Canton.
Petitioner complained that Yung Shu Wan is within British territory, and that, as the junk had not yet passed Cheung Chau, which is outside of Yung Shu Wan, it was rather premature to say that she was smuggling.
This petition was forwarded to Her Majesty's Consul in No. 259 of the 17th April, 1875, with a hope expressed that the sale of the junk and cargo might be stayed pending inquiries. The Consul answered in C. S. O. 1,404, of 3rd May, 1875, stating various suspicious circumstances in the case, and suggesting that the petitioner be sent to Canton. He further remarked that the punishment for this kind of smuggling was only confiscation of junk and cargo. (In commenting on this, however, the Acting Registrar-General stated that two of the crew had already been arrested and tortured.)
In reply to the above, Kwong-Tsz-San proceeded to Canton, armed with letter No. 315 of 10th May, 1875.
(Signed)
No. 2.
CECIL C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Office to Sir A. E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, July 24, 1875. I AM directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you in original a letter written by Mr. Hart, the Chief Commissioner of the Foreign Branch of the Chinese Maritime Customs, which he urges the collection of duty in Hong Kong upon opium intended for shipment from the Colony into China, as a means of disposing of the “blockade ” difficulty; and I am to request that you will favour his Lordship with any observations you may desire to offer in reference to this letter, and on the memorandum and other papers attached to it.
My dear Sir Richard,
1 have, &c. (Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 2.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Peking, April 10, 1875. YOURS of the 7th December has been sent to me by Mr. Russell, and I now respond to your invitation to make a suggestion anent "the blockade of Hong Kong,” as the action of the Chinese Customs in that quarter is called.
When I saw you in your office in 1870, I had a proposal to make, but, on hearing what you had to say à propos of the possible appointment of a Consul for Hong Kong, kept it back as inopportune. I again had an opportunity of bringing it forward in 1872, but again "held my hand:" the "blockade" was in full swing, and the experiment was a rather interesting one to watch.
First of all, however, I should tell you that, as a simple collector of revenue, and desirous of seeing our (Foreign Inspectorate) collection increase, I have always felt Hong