(6)
(7)
grave doubts arose in the minds of many of us as to the correctness of these statements. Immediately or very soon after the system commenced, complaints of squeezing and seizures began to come in, and these continuing to increase, a Commission was appointed. Before this Commission a number of facts were elicited, which clearly showed that respectable traders were being mulcted and robbed. These facts were stated in the report, but, as the evidence in proof of them could not for obvious reasons be published, doubt was thrown by some sceptical persons upon the report, and several members used to rise periodically in this room and say, "Where are your proofs? Establish your facts," &c. No such remarks can be made now, as the Consul's despatch acknowledges the imposition of double duties; and it is proved by the able paper from the pen of our second Police Magistrate,
have been demanded. The line of argument by which the Mandarin mind arrived at the place of imposing the double duties at the stations outside
robbery, which has been allowed to go on for some years now. In these papers, it will be found that the Hoppo of Canton and his employés, at the stations and on board the cruisers, stand convicted by the written testimony of their own apologist, H. B. M. Consul at Canton, of levying excessive exactions, double duties in fact, upon the junk trade of the Colony. It appears that on all goods coming to this Colony from any part of China, he levies an export duty according to the native tariff, also an export duty according to the foreign tariff; and on all goods sent from this Colony, he levies a double import duty in like manner. The despatch in which this avowal is made is certainly "peculiar," and I recommend it and the others from the same pen, to the careful perusal of members. It is most curious to notice how the writer twists and turns about in his endeavours to place the action of the Mandarins in the most favourable light. In one paragraph, then acting as Registrar-General, that in some instances nearly treble duties of a despatch he makes them out to be models of official rectitude and discipline, going as far as to say that "they are as much under control as the Officers of any Government," while in another paragraph he talks of irresponsible provincial officers and their subordinates. Now surely these two statements are contradictory; if Government Officers are irresponsible, they cannot be much under control.
And you will see further in the Proclamation of the Viceroy, dated 15th May, 1876—which the Consul takes credit to himself on getting issued—that the employés of the Customs have entirely ignored a former Viceroy's Proclamation. This certainly does not look as if they were as much under control as the Officers of any Government. I should like to see what would take place, were any Officers of any department in this Colony to ignore a Government Notification. However, to return to the question of the imposition of double duties, when these stations commenced to collect duties on general merchandise—previously they collected duty on Opium, only—and I had the assurance of Her Majesty's Consul at that time that they were instituted solely to collect duties on this commodity, and that there was no intention to levy duties on general merchandise, however, this subsequently proved not to be the case.
Well, when they commenced to levy duties generally, the persons who defended the Chinese officials in the proceeding said "They are only collecting the dues according to Chinese tariff and such as they have been collecting at other places for many centuries, and any trader who honestly pays these dues need have nothing to fear, the Chinese Government have no intention of gaining by these stations, they only there to prevent them from losing what they were entitled to by ancient law and usage.”
But knowing as we do the rapacity of the Chinese officials, exports from this Colony to places in the Canton province, he has not a shadow of reason on his side for charging rather more than the Nei-ti-shui on those, as I believe it was the custom in old times to charge some little extra duty on goods which were exported to places outside of China, such as Annam, Singapore, &c., but this extra duty was something small, perhaps a third or a quarter of the Nei-ti-shui, but here the rapacity of the Mandarin shows itself, and he imposes the foreign tariff export duty, this being nearly double the amount of the Nei-ti-shui. In the case of exports from the various parts of the province of Canton to Hongkong, he may have some little show of reason on his side.
271
(6)
(7)
grave doubts arose in the minds of many of us as to the correctness of these statements. Immediately or very soon after the system commenced, com- plaints of squoozing and seizures began to come in, and these continuing to increase, a Commission was appointed. Before this Commission a number of facts were elicited, which clearly showed that respectable traders were being muleted and robbed. These facts were stated in the report, but, as the evidence in proof of them could not for obvious reasons be published, doubt was thrown by some sceptical persons upon the report, and several members used to rise periodically in this room and say, "Where are your proofs
Establish your facts," &c. No such remarks can be made now, as the Consul's despatch acknowledges the imposition of double duties; and it is proved by the able paper from the pen of our second Police Magistrate,
have been demanded. The line of argument by which the Mandarin mind arrived at the place of imposing the double duties at the stations outside
robbery, which has been allowed to go on for some years now. In these papers, it will be found that the Hoppo of Canton and his employés, at the stations and on board the cruisers, stand convicted by the written testimony of their own apologist, H. B. M. Cousul at Canton, of levying excessive exactions, double duties in fact, upon the junk trade of the Colony. It appears that on all goods coming to this Colony from any part of China, he levies an export duty according to the native tariff, also an export duty according to the foreign tariff; and on all goods sent from this Colony, he levies a double import duty in like manner. The despatch in which this avowal is made is certainly "peculiar," and I recommend it and the others from the same pen, to the careful perusal of members. It is most curious to notice how the writer twists and turns about in his endeavours to place the action of the Mandarins in the most favourable light. In one paragraphthen acting as Registrar-General, that in some instances nearly treble duties of a despatch he ruakes them out to be models of official rectitude and discipline, going as far as to say that "they are as much under control as the Officers of any Government," while in another paragraph he talks of irresponsi-this harbour is instructive. You are all probably aware that a Chinese ble provincial officers and their subordinates. Now surely these two stato official will nover, except under the severest pressure, admit that Hongkong ments are contradictory; if Government Officers are irresponsible, they can not has ceased to be a portion of the Empire of China, and by some pleasant be much under control. And you will see further in the Proclamation of the fiction no doubt makes it appear to the mass of the Chinese people that the Viceroy, dated 15th May, 1876—which the Consul takes credit to himself on presence here of a British Governor, a British Garrison, Law Courts, Police, getting issued-that the employés of the Customs have entirely ignored a&c., is permitted as an act of grace, merely for a time, by the all powerful former Viceroy's Proclamation. This certainly does not look as if they were Sovereign of China. The cunning Hoppo saw in this position of matters a as much under control as the Officers of any Government. I should like to splendid opportunity for filling his pockets, and he said "I shall perpetuate see what would take place, were any Officers of any departament in thithis state of uncertainty as to whom the Island of Hongkong belongs, so I Colony to ignore a Government Notification. However, to return to the shall levy two dutios, one as if it was a part of China, and another as if it question of the imposition of double duties, when these stations commenced was a foreign part." Now this is a very pleasant view of the situation for to collect duties on general merchandise-previously they collected duty on the Hoppo, but one which I am very glad to say does not satisfy Lord Opium, only and 1 had the assurance of Her Majesty's Consul at that time CARNARVON, and I do not think any of us will approve of the dual status which that they wore instituted solely to collect duties on this commodity, and that this unscrupulous individual has assigned to the Colony. As far as regards there was no intention to levy duties on general merchandise,however, this exports from the various parts of the province of Canton to Hongkong, he subsequently proved not to be the case. Well, when they commenced may have some little show of reason on his side for charging rather more than levy duties generally, the persons who defended the Chinese officials in the Nei-ti-shui on those, as I believe it was the custom in old times to charge proceeding said "They are only collecting the dues according to Chines some little extra duty on goods which were exported to places outside of tariff and such as they have been collecting at other places for many conturin, China, such as Annam, Singapore, &c., but this extra duty was something and any trader who honestly pays these dues need have nothing to fear, the small, perhaps a third or a quarter of the Nei-ti-shui, but here the rapacity Chinese Government have no intention of gaining by these stations, they of the Mandarin shows itself, and he imposes the foreign tariff export duty, only there to prevont them from losing what they were entitled to by ancient this being nearly double the amount of the Nei-ti-shui. In the case of ex- law and usage.”
But knowing as we do the rapacity of the Chinese officius,ports from this Colony to places in the Canton province, he has not a shadow
271
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.