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2. That the scheme should be abandoned if found to be prejudicial to the interests of Hong Kong,
Mr. Russell then proceeded to give an outline of his scheme.
1. The Government of Hong Kong to enact an Ordinance prohibiting the import into the Colony of opium in quantities less than one chest.
2. All importations to be reported to the Hong Kong Government.
3. Merchants to keep registers of importations and sales.
4. No opium to be shipped or moved without the knowledge of the Government.
5. The monopoly of sale in quantities of less than one chest to be given to the Raw Opium Farmer, or to persons officially recognized as his licensees.
6. Possession of opium in quantities of less than one chest to be forbidden, unless intended for export, proof of such intention being the permit of the Opium Farmer, and a valid duty receipt from the Chinese Customs authorities.
7. All junks, or other Chinese craft, licensed or not, to be prohibited from leaving during the night.
8. Provisions to be made for searching merchants' warehouses in order to check the opium stored there.
In addition to these provisions of the Ordinance, the Government of the Colony would undertake to give the Chinese Customs notice of all shipments by steamer or by junk. The two Chinese Commissioners, after examining these proposals, decided upon accepting them subject to their approval by the Peking Government. This approval was subsequently obtained, and Sir Robert Hart instructed to proceed to Macao in order to negotiate with the Governor as to the adoption by the Portuguese Settlement of a corresponding measure.
Some discussion appears to have taken place as to whether or not Mr. Russell's proposals should be consigned to writing before Sir Robert Hart's departure, but Mr. Russell having refused to do more than allow his colleagues to read the draft Ordinance, Sir Robert Hart started for Macao, where he still is. In the meantime, the other Chinese Commissioner has left Hong Kong, and Mr. Brenan consulted me, by telegraph, as to whether he was to remain under these circumstances, or to return to Tien-tsin. As Sir Robert Hart is expected back very shortly at Hong Kong, I thought it would be a pity, now that matters were so far advanced, for Mr. Brenan to leave until he had seen the Inspector-General of Customs, and had heard from him the result of his negotiations at Macao.
By being on the spot he would, in the case of any hitch, be able to assist in getting rid of it, and so prevent the possibility of the Commission's work being rendered useless. I have therefore instructed him to delay his departure from Hong Kong.
It is understood that Macao will probably be prepared to go even further than Hong Kong in the way of acceding to the Chinese suggestions for stopping smuggling, and believe Sir Robert Hart has sounded Mr. Russell on the point of the British Colony making some further concession; but it is not likely that he will obtain more than the Ordinance; and should this become law China, with the Additional Article to the Chefoo Agreement also in her possession, will have no cause for questioning the good-will of Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN WALSHAM.
Inclosure in No. 116.
Summary of the Proceedings of the Hong Kong Commission.
June 29, 1886.
Present:
Shao Taotai, Sir R. Hart, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Brenan.
AFTER greetings, Mr. Russell asked for what purpose the Commission had met to-day.
Sir R. Hart stated that we had met to decide upon the course of our future proceedings. As Mr. Russell was aware, this Commission had been decided on ten years ago in the Chefoo Convention.
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2. That the scheme should be abandoned if found to be prejudicial to the interests of Hong Kong,
Mr. Russell then proceeded to give an outline of his scheme.
1. The Government of Hong Kong to enact an Ordinance prohibiting the import into the Colony of opium in quantities less than one chest.
2. All importations to be reported to the Hong Kong Government.
3. Merchants to keep registers of importations and sales.
4. No opium to be shipped or moved without the knowledge of the Government.
5. The monopoly of sale in quantities of less than one chest to be given to the Raw
Opium Farmer, or to persons officially recognized as his licensees.
6. Possession of opium in quantities of less than one chest to be forbidden, unless intended for export, proof of such intention being the permit of the Opium Farmer, and a valid duty receipt from the Chinese Customs authorities.
7. All junks, or other Chinese craft, licensed or not, to be prohibited from leaving during the night.
8. Provisions to be made for searching merchants' warehouses in order to check the opium stored there.
In addition to these provisions of the Ordinance, the Government of the Colony would undertake to give the Chinese Customs notice of all shipments by steamer or by junk. The two Chinese Commissioners, after examining these proposals, decided upon accepting them subject to their approval by the Peking Government. This approval was subsequently obtained, and Sir Robert Hart instructed to proceed to Macao in order to negotiate with the Governor as to the adoption by the Portuguese Settlement of a corre- sponding measure,
Some discussion appears to have taken place us to whether or not Mr. Russell's proposals should be consigned to writing before Sir Robert Hart's departure, but Mr. Russell having refused to do more than allow his colleagues to read the draft Ordinance, Sir Robert Hart started for Macao, where he still is. In the meantime, the other Chinese Commissioner has left Hong Kong, and Mr. Brenan consulted me, by telegraph, as to whether he was to remain under these circumstances, or to return to Tien-tsin. As Sir Robert Hart is expected back very shortly at Hong Kong, I thought it would be a pity, now that matters were so far advanced, for Mr. Brenan to leave until he had seen the Inspector-General of Customs, and had heard from him the result of his negotiations at Macão.
By being on the spot he would, in the case of any hitch, be able to assist in getting rid of it, and so prevent the possibility of the Commission's work being rendered useless. I have therefore instructed him to delay his departure from Hong Kong.
It is understood that Macao will probably be prepared to go even further than Hong Kong in the way of acceding to the Chinese suggestions for stopping sinuggling, and believe Sir Robert Hart has sounded Mr. Russell on the point of the British Colony making some further concession; but it is not likely that he will obtain more than the Ordinance; and should this become law China, with the Additional Article to the Chefoo Agreement also in her possession, will have no cause for questioning the good-will of Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN WALSHAM.
Inclosure in No. 116.
Summary of the Proceedings of the Hong Kong Commission.
June 29, 1886.
Present:
Shao Taotai, Sir R. Hart, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Brenan.
AFTER greetings, Mr. Russell asked for what purpose the Commission had met to-day.
Sir R. Hart stated that we had met to decide upon the course of our future proceedings. As Mr. Russell was aware, this Commission had been decided on ten years ago in the Chefoo Convention.
378
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