CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3] — Page 648

!

(4)

FRENCH TREATY OF 1858.

Art. 3tv.-No privileged commercial society shall henceforth be estab- Jished in China, and the same shall apply to any organised coalition having for its end the exercise of a monopoly of trade. In case of the contravention of the present article the Chinese Authorities, on the representation of the Consul or Consular Agents, sbull advise as to the means of dissolving such associations, of which they are also bound to prevent the existence by the preceding probibitions, so as to remove all that may stand in the way of free competition.

agrees

UNITED STATES TREATY OF 1880.

Art. 111-His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China hereby promises and that no other kind or higher rate of tonnage dues or duties for imports and exports or coastwise trado shall be imposed or levied in the open ports of China upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise inported in the same from the United States or from any foreign country, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise exported in the same to the United States, or to any foreign country, or transported in the same from one open port of China to another, than are imposed or lovied on vessels or cargoes of any other nation, or on those of Chinese subjects. The United States hereby promises and agrees that no other kind of higher rate of tonnage duties and dues for imports shall be imposed or lovied in the ports of the United States upon vessels wholly belonging to the subjects of His Imperial Majesty, coming either directly or by way of any foreign port from any of the ports of China which are open to foreign trade to the ports of the United States, or returning therefrom either directly or by way of any foreign port to any of the open ports of China, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported in the same, from China, or from any foreign country, than are imposed or levied on vessels of any other nations which make no discrimination against the United States in tonnage dues or duties on imports, exports, or coastwise trade, or than are imposed or levied on vessels and cargoes of citizens of the United States.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 24th September, 1891.

SIR,--Adverting to your letter dated 15th July, 1887, and by direction

of the Committee, I have now the honour to hand you for the information of the Officer Administering the Government copy of this Chamber's letter

(5)

of 23rd instant, addressed to Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Poking, calling his attention to the preferential levy of duty on Tea and other Exports by the Hoppo of Canton.-I bare, &c.,

To the Honourable W. MEIGH GOODMAN, Acting Colonial Secretary,

Hongkong.

F. HENDERSON, Secretary.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 6th October, 1891.

Sts, I have the pleasure to hand you herewith-by direction of my Committee--copy of a letter addressed to Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking by this Chamber,

The letter deals with a communication received from the representatives

of the principal Steam-ship Companies in the Colony in which they complain of the action of the Canton Hoppo in giving a preference in the matter of Export duty to goods carried by Native Craft over those conveyed by Foreign Vessels-and which my Committee agree with them in thinking is an infringement of treaty obligatious.

The matter referred to is one of very considerable importance to the owners of foreign shipping and my Committee trust their letter may in some degree prove interesting to you.-I have, &c.,

T. WATTERS, Esq.,

H. B. M's Consul,

Canton.

F. HENDERSON, Secretary.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 1st December, 1891.

MY LORD MARQUESS,-The Committee of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce beg most respectfully to bring to your Lordship's notice the following facts.

On the 10th September last, the Committee were notified by the leading shipping interests of this Colony that their trade was being most seriously interfered with owing to the action of a subordinate Officer of the Chinese

644