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In the letter of the Hongkong, Cauton and Macao Steam-boat Company dated the 30th September particulars are given of shipments by junk from Canton aggregating 1,300 tons, and it is certain that so large a quantity of vainable cargo such as tea would not be sent in such craft without very substantial inducement.
This Chamber regrets that it is not in a position to define, for your Excel- leucy's information and use, what these inducements are, and it is aware of the difficulty you must experience in taking any action upon insufficient data; but I am directed to subunit for your consideration whether the mere fact of the shipments referred to coming forward by jouk upon which insurance would be expensive or unobtainable is not in itself a proof that there must be some considerations offered the shippers. The rates of freight by steamer are very moderate, and yet Chinese dealers are willing to sell tea for delivery It is in Hongkong by junk at a much cheaper rate than if sent by steamer, extremely probable that the Native Customs authorities having instructions to guard against differential rates evade the point by levying the customary duty but on a larger quantity of tea or in other words accepting false returns of weight.
It will be apparent to your Excellency that it is practically impossible to elicit any positive proof that such concessions are really granted (although it is certain that they are), owing to the difficulties in the way at all times of getting Chinese to in any way implicate their own officials who would make severe reprisals upon them; more particularly is this so in a case like the present wheu those interested would become losers by any change in the existing system.
As already stated the Chamber regrets it cannot give any instance to prove that differential duties are accepted; but the Committee venture to hope that your Excellency may again see it to refer the question to the Chinese authorities and elicit from them an explanation of how these junk shipments can be carried without an inducement, and if the inducement is a legitimate one what it is. I bave, &c.,
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PEKING, November 13th, 1993.
SIR-I have no doubt that some special inducement in the shape of proferential duties or otherwise is granted to junk owners carrying tea to Hongkong, but unless I can obtain some material proof that such is the case it is very difficult to persuade the Central Government to insist on the fulfil- ment of instructious which deprive the Hoppo of Canton of a lucrative source of revenue. You are acquainted with the attitude taken up by the Tsung-li Yumên, namely, that preferential treatment is not accorded, and furthermore that they have sent positive orders to Canton prohibiting it. I have shown to the Yamen that the statistics of the currying trade leave no moral doubt as to the existence of the practice, and I hope, even without the proofs I have naked for, to bring sufficient pressure to bear to remove the complaint justly preferred by British merchants in the matter. In any case the subject will continue to engage my attention as well as that of Mr. BRENAN, Her Majesty's Consul at Canton.-1 have, &c.,
J. J. KESWICK, Esq.,
N. R. O'CONOR.
Chairman of the Hongkong GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Hoxerone, 1st February, 1804.
SIE,With reference to my letter No. 1,503 of the 24th October last and previous correspondence I am directed to transmit to you for the cousi- deration of the Chamber of Commerce the euclosed copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister ut Peking, aud to state that the Governor will be pleased to forward to the Minister whatever proof the Chamber may be able to bring forward regarding the existence of the preferential duties granted ou junk-carried goods at Canton.-I have, &c.,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.
J. J. KESWICK, Chairman,
To His Excellency N. R, O'Coxon, C.B., C.M.G.,
Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary in China, Peking.
The Secretary, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
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