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long correspondence and much negociation an admission is made that these breaches bare happened, orders are given for rectification of these illegal acts, and the carrying trade reverts for a time to normal channels. The trade then departs from its usual course into the old preference for junk carriage. No other conclusion is possible but that the same practices are at work now that were admitted to exist before.
Buyers of produce in Canton for export to foreign ports from Hongkong are able to purchase considerably cheaper if bought delivered by junk in Hongkong, than if they purchase for delivery in Canton and transferred the cargo from Cauton to Hougkong in foreigu steamers. The freight
by steam to Hongkong being very much below junk carriage. In short, a seller of produce for delivery in Canton would demand considerably more than would be accepted, for the same article, delivered by junk, at seller's expense, in Hongkong,
The whole watter is patent in this Chamber's opinion, and it appears unreasonable to doubt the existence of some such methods as are indicated for the continuance of the illegal breaches of Treaty that permanently occur, and equally unreasonable to expect the complainants to furnish specific proof of any particular breaches. A very fair analogy may be instanced with what has occurred again and again with the Gambling Houses at Kowloon City which may be within your Lordship's cognisance.
Remonstrance after remonstrance is addressed by the Governor of this Colony, through Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking, to the Chinese Authorities against the dangerous nuisance that they permit to be established in such close proximity to Hongkong-the vice of gambling is contrary to Chinese law. Tardily orders are transmitted to stop the evil. The houses are tem- porarily closed, to open again very shortly afterwards, just the same as beforo. How often this has happened is within the knowledge of Her Britaonic Majesty's Minister at Peking.
The Chamber feels diffident to recommend any system that shall once for all put an end to the recurrence of their complaints. For with the tortuous Native methods the Committee feel they may be suggesting devices that will render the native ways even more secret and less liable to detection. But the Chamber considers, provided the Chinese Authorities would consent, that if all cargo intended for exportation to foreign ports shall be passed only through the Imperial Maritime Customs instead of indiscriminately both through the Native Customs and the Imperial Maritime Customs, as at present, a blow would be struck at the present irregularities, which would probably end all complaints.
It should also be incumbent upon the exporter in Canton to declare, when passing bis goods through the Native Customs that they are not for export to foreign ports from Hongkong. False statements on this point could be readily detected and proved in Hongkong when a tius of the duty leviable under the Imperial Maritime Customs Tariff should be levied and paid to the satisfaction of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul in Canton, in addition to what has already been paid on the goods to the Native Customs.
The many various phases of the entire question are so fully set forth in the printed cor- respondence enclosed that the Chamber would only beg your reference to them.
The Chamber begs to acknowledge the unvarying courtesy, the keen interest and prompt attention which have invariably been manifested by Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking in the conduct of this troublesome affair, and in addressing your Lordship personally have no desire it should be thought they intend to pass over Her Britannic Majesty's Minister, but considering the importance of the interests involved and that an unredressed complaint, involving serious breaches of Treaties, which has lingered as this has done without a proper settlement is a most dangerons procedent to the commerce of Great Britain in these waters, and it is considered most desirable to bring the matter under the immediate notice of your Lordship. A copy of this letter, with enclosures, will be sout to Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking that he may be aware of the action that has been taken.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient and humble Servant,
E. MACKINTOSH,
Fice-Chairman,
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