In Under S. oft. J.v.
A Kany
20577
158
Sin,
Sur
جلا
13 Nov. 1896
Chinese and foreign merchants. Native produce coming from the interior under Transit Pass is exempt from likin en route, and is only under the necessity on reaching a port to pay the transit duty, after which it is exported. This privilege is confined to foreign merchants, and Chinese merchants are not entitled to it. But it frequently happens that Chinese merchants fraudulently induce the various foreign firms to purchase and bring down native produce, their object being to evade the payment of likin. This produce is not exported to foreign countries, the result being that honest trade and the likin revenue of all the provinces suffer alike. If it is wished to put a stop to these abuses, the only thing to do is to allow Chinese merchants to take out transit passes in the same way as foreign merchants, so that they can buy native produce and convey it to the ports. Thus a stop will be put to the spread of corrupt practices, and by the same means the revenue will be brought to a flourishing condition. A memorandum is herewith enclosed for your perusal.”
The memorandum contains a request for the adoption of the procedure laid down in the Chinkiang Customs regulations now in force; that is to say, when a merchant takes out a transit pass, he has to enter into a recognisance to the effect that if the goods do not reach a port within the time allowed, he shall forfeit six times the amount of the duty. On the goods reaching the port, he shall deposit three times the amount of the duty. If the said goods are duly exported to a foreign country, the export duty and the transit duty shall be deducted from the deposit, and the balance returned to the merchant. Should the goods in question not be exported to a foreign country, the entire deposit shall be paid over to the likin office.
Your memorialists would observe that when foreign merchants take out transit passes for the purchase of native goods they should export the goods to the foreign country within the specified time; on this account only foreign merchants are allowed to take out transit passes while Chinese merchants are debarred from doing so. But, of late, foreign merchants do not in all cases export the native produce they have purchased, and there have been repeated cases in which Chinese merchants, being desirous of evading likin, have personated foreign merchants and obtained transit passes under false pretences. The foreign merchants take a delight in shielding them so that they may divide profits, and thus frauds of all kinds are perpetrated which baffle complete investigation. The objects of the proposals advanced by the Inspector-General are the regulation of the revenue and the putting a stop to the spread of malpractices. After mature deliberation, memorialists are of opinion that the most just course to pursue will be to establish a uniform procedure in place of the present dual system which only leads to false representations. We propose therefore that the Chinkiang Customs regulations quoted by the Inspector-General should be made to apply uniformly throughout the entire Customs system. That is to say: Chinese merchants taking out transit passes are exempt from paying likin in the interior, but must pay the transit duty. Furthermore, the native produce purchased need not necessarily be exported in every case, on which account one and a half times the amount of the duty must be paid in excess as cover for the likin. The result will be advantage and not disadvantage, and will redound to the benefit both of the revenue and of trade.
Should your Majesty signify assent, memorialists will send instructions to the Inspector-General of Customs and request the Northern and Southern Superintendents of Trade to direct the various Superintendents of Customs to settle a date for the inauguration of the new system.
As in duty bound we present this supplementary memorial and prostrate pray your Imperial Majesty to deign to glance thereon and to favour us with your commands. A reverent memorial.
MINUTE.
Mr. Johnson 12 Nov.
Mr. Lucas
Mr. Fairfield.
Mr. Wingfield.
12
Mr. Bramston.
Sir R. Meade.
12
Earl of Selborne.
Mr. Chamberlain.
I am directed by M. See? (hamberlain
to ack: the sec
letter of the 29 Sept. Cast, relative to a proposal by His Excellency Li Hung Chang that customs duties should be paid in gold to the pound sterling or at 3 taels.
2. I am to request Im to inform the Marquess of Salisbury that
DRAFT.
In Under S. oft. J.v.
A Kany
20577
158
Sin,
Sur
جلا
13 Nov. 1896
Chinese and foreign merchants. Native produce coming from the interior under Transit Pass is exempt from likin en route, and is only under the necessity on reaching a port to pay the transit duty, after which it is exported. This privilege is confined to foreign merchants, and Chinese merchants are not entitled to it. But it frequently happens that Chinese merchants fraudulently induce the various foreign firms to purchase and bring down native produce, their object being to evade the payment of likin. This produce is not exported to foreign countries, the result being that honest trade and the tikin revenue of all the provinces suffer alike. If it is wished to put a stop to these abuses, the only thing to do is to allow Chinese merchants to take out transit passes in the same way as foreign merchants, so that they can buy native produce and convey it to the ports. Thus a stop will be put to the spread of corrupt practices, and by the same means the revenue will be brought to a flourishing condition. A memorandum is herewith enclosed for your perusal.”
་
The memorandum contains a request for the adoption of the procedure laid down in the Chinkiang Customs regulations now in force; that is to say, when a merchant takes out a transit pass, he has to enter into a recognisance to the effect that if the goods do not reach a port within the time allowed, he shall forfeit six times the amount of the duty. On the goods reaching the port, he shall deposit three times the amount of the duty. If the said goods are duly exported to a foreign country, the export duty and the transit duty shall be deducted from the deposit, and the balance returned to the merchant. Should the goods in question not be exported to a foreign country, the entire deposit shall be paid over to the likin office.
Your memorialists would observe that when foreign merchants take out transit passes for the purchase of native goods they should export the goods to the foreign country within the specified time; on this account only foreign merchants are allowed to take out transit passes while Chinese merchants are debarred from doing so. But, of late, foreign merchants do not in all casos export the native produce they have purchased, and there have been repeated cases in which Chinese merchants, being desirous of evading likin, have personated foreign mer- chants and obtained transit passes under false pretences. The foreign merchants take a delight in shielding them so that they may divide profits, and thus frauds of all kinds are perpetrated which baffle complete investigation. The objects of the proposals advanced by the Inspector-General are the regulation of the revenue and the putting a stop to the spread of malpractices. After mature deliberation, memorialists are of opinion that the most just course to pursue will be to establish a uniform procedure in place of the present dual system which only leads to false representations. We propose therefore that the Chinkiang Customs regulations quoted by the Inspector-General should be made to apply uniformly throughout the entire Customs system. That is to say: Chinese merchants taking out transit passes are exempt from paying likin in the interior, but must pay the transit duty. Furthermore, the native produce purchased need not necessarily be exported in every case, on which account one and a half times the amount of the duty must be paid in excess as cover for the likin. The result will be advantage and not disadvantage, and will redound to the benefit both of the revenue and of trade.
Should your Majesty signify assent, memorialists will send instructions to the Inspector- General of Customs and request the Northern and Southern Superintendents of Trade to direct the various Superintendents of Customs to settle a date for the inauguration of the new system.
As in duty bound we present this supplementary memorial and prostrate pray your Imperial Majesty to deign to glance thereon and to favour us with your commands. A reverent
memorial.
MINUTE.
Mr. Johnson 12 Nov.
Mr. Lucas
Mr. Fairfield.
Mr. Wingfield.
12
Mr. Bramston.
Sir R. Meade.
12
*
Earl of Selborne.
Mr. Chamberlain.
I am directed by
M. See? (hamberlain
to ack: the sec
с узки
letter of the 29
Sept. Cast, relative to
a proposal by Hir Excellency
Li Hung
the Chinese
Chang that customs
1
duties should be paid
gold. to the pound sterling.
or at 3 taels
2. Jam to request Im to inform the
Marquess of
Malistung
that
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