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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PILLICO. 882

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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addressed to, and sent by, you to Mr. Lowcock, and requesting my attention to the

same.

In reply I have to state, that the Proclamation of the Viceroy of the Two Kwang, of public meeting at the the 6th of February, 1869, cited in the 7th Resolution passed at a City Hall at Hong Kong, had reference solely "to the action of persons who falsely assumed the characters of cruizers in the Customs service," and was a police measure entirely, which

still in force.

I inclose a copy translation of the Proclamation in question, for the information of his Excellency the Administrator.

The Honourable Cecil E. Smith,

Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.

(Translation.)

I have, &c.

(Signed)

B. ROBERTSON, Consul.

Inclosure 8 in No. 4.

Proclamation.

The Viceroy of the Two Kwang Provinces, &c., Jui, and the Superintendent of Maritime

Customs for Kwang-tung, Shih, issue a stringent prohibition.

February 6, 1869. WHEREAS sea-going vessels, belonging to various parts of the Province, are engaged at Hong Kong in the transportation of foreign merchandize, which they carry in all directions to supply the market; a portion of these pay duty at the Central Custom- house at Canton, and others at the branch Custom-house at Swatow. The track pursued is left to the convenience of those engaged in the trade, with the restriction only, that evasion of search and other practices connected with smuggling, are forbidden: Inasmuch, also, as the branch Customi-house (at Swatow), is subordinate to the jurisdiction of the Central Office, the administration, although seemingly divided, is in reality one and the same. As regards the collections made at the outports, and the registration and surrender of permits at these places, established rules are in existence, and smuggling is strictly prohibited. The clerks and underlings employed, are equally prohibited against practising illegal exactions, all of which has in times past been notified by Proclamations now on record.

It has of late been ascertained that certain evil-disposed persons have falsely assumed the character of cruizers in the Customs' service, and have stopped trading vessels at sea, levying exactions from them at their own caprice, exciting thereby alarm among those interested in the said vessels, and causing a stoppage of navigation, to the great detriment of the mercantile community. Such conduct is deserving of the severest reprobation. The Viceroy and Superintendent of Customs have now accordingly decided in concert upon stringent measures for the seizure of the guilty persons, and the complete eradication of their measures. The Customs at present employ no steamers, and the guard boats appertaining to this department do not make cruizes at sea for the pursuit of smugglers, general orders being issued to the guard boats attached to the various offices, directing them to cruise exclusively in the vicinity of their respective stations, and forbidding their putting to sea to search for smugglers. This measure is adopted in order that the false may be distinguishable from the true, and the capture of vessels sailing under a false character may be facilitated. The Superintendent of Customs has further withdrawn and cancelled his Proclamation, issued in November last, with reference to the employment of steam cruizers for the pursuit of smugglers, whilst the Viceroy has issued orders to the Commanders of the steam cruizers to search for and to apprehend the vagabonds who have falsely assumed the character of preventive employés, on board vessels of various descriptions, who, on being seized, will be brought to condign punishment. In addition hereto this Proclamation is further issued:-

Wherefore it is hereby notified to all persons, for their information: Do ye hence- forward pursue your respective callings in peace, and carefully avoid infractions of the law and mischievous proceedings. If, after this, there still be evil-disposed persons who fraudulently assume the character of cruizers under the Buperintendent's Customs flag, and stop trading vessels for the purpose of levying exactions, they are hereby declared as differing in no respect from pirates, and they shall be visited without fail, when seized and

* The Customs had no steamere ør steam-launches then.

This Proclaration was notifying that the Haikwan had requested the Viceroy to allow his steamers.to search the colton junks, but it was withdrawn.

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brought to justice, with the utmost penalty of the law. upon this our warning, and no leniency shall be shown. special Proclamation.

Sir,

No. 5.

The execution of the law ensues

Foreign Office to Colonial Office.

Let all tremblingly obey. A

Foreign Office, January 12, 1875. WITH reference to your letter of the 27th August last, I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Carnarvon, for his perused, a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, in original, to be returned, relative to the petition of certain Chinese merchants resident at Hong Kong, praying for protection against the Chinese revenue cruizers in the neighbourhood of that Colony.

(Signed)

Inclosure 1 in No. 5.

I am, &c.

ROBERT BOURKE.

My Lord,

Canton, December 1, 1874. I HAVE had the honour to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 22nd of September, marked Separate, transmitting copy of a despatch of the 10th July, 1874, from the Governor of Hong Kong to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, inclosing & petition from certain Chinese merchants of that Colony praying for protection from seizure of junks resorting to Hong Kong, by armed cruizers belonging to the Chinese Govern- ment, and for restitution in cases where junks have already been seized; and instructing me to furnish a report on the matter, and to inform your Lordship whether, in my opinion, the complaints in question are well founded, and such as call for the interference of Her Majesty's Government.

In accordance with your Lordship's instructions, I have the honour to state that the questions raised by the Chinese petition to Her Majesty the Queen may be taken as three in number:-First, whether or not the Chinese Government has a right to levy duties within its own jurisdiction; second, whether or not such levy is directed against or injures the legitimate trade of the Colony of Hong Kong; and, third, whether Hong Kong being a free port, can claim on this account exceptional privileges.

As regards the first, the history of this blockade, as it is termed, of the Colony by Chinese revenue cruizers may be briefly told :---

Some years since the falling off of the Canton Customs revenue became very marked, and the reason of this was plain enough. The Colony of Hong Kong, which within thirty years from the date of its cession to the British Government, had become a large city, and the depot of foreign trade with China, afforded facilities for smuggling which the Chinese were not slow in availing themselves of. For this the Canton Government was wholly un- prepared. The coast-line of the province of Kwang-tung, commonly called Canton, is of great extent above a thousand miles-and indented with bays, creeks, and the estuaries of two great rivers, the Pearl and the West River. It is thickly populated with a lawless and turbulent class of people, who look upon wreckage and smuggling as legitimate occu- patione. Before Hong Kong became a place of importance, the collection of duties, import and export, for both are paid by junks trading either with ports on this coast, or with those of other provinces, was a simple matter, as no junk could leave without doing so, if there was a Custom-house at the port of departure; and if there was not, she had to call at the nearest port where there was one; and, consequently, the surveillance of the coast, and the establishment of frequently recurring Custom-stations, were unnecessary. When, however, Hong Kong became a centre of foreign trade, and a depôt for opium and foreign merchandise, all this was changed. Junka then loaded at the Colony, and landed their opium and goods wherever it suited them on the Canton Coast; and, conversely, they brought Chinese produce to the Colony for sale to foreigners, without paying a farthing of duty. Thus was the falling off in the Customs revenue accounted for; and the question with the Provincial Authorities was--What could be done?

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