CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 22

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[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

6.0.

19

3015

REC?

[ January Hele 10 FEB 98

SECTION 1.

Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received January 17, 1898.)

(No. 157.) My Lord,

Peking, November 19, 1897. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship, with reference to my despatch No. 152 of the 3rd instant, copy of the Intelligence Report for the September quarter which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Wuchow.

I have, &c. (Signed)

CLAUDE M. MacDONALD.

(Separate.) Sir,

Inclosure I in No. 1.

Acting Consul Jamieson to Sir C. MacDonald.

Wuchow, September 28, 1897. I HAVE the honour to inclose an Intelligence Report for the quarter ending the 30th September.

I regret that an absence of reliable maps and an incomplete access to hooks of reference and trade returns reuder the information therein contained less accurate and com- prehensive than I could have wished.

After the major part of the Report had been written, I had an opportunity of consult- ing Mr. Bourne's account of his journey in South-Western China, made in 1886, and a comparison of the information collected and the conclusions arrived at by that gentleman on the subject of the West River trade route, as set forth in luclosure I in No. 4 of the Blue Book China I (1888), with those furnished in the present Report may not be without interest.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. W. JAMIESON.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Wuchon Intelligence Report for the Quarter ending September 30, 1897.

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INDEX.

I-Historical and Geographical; description of the town of Wuchow; revenue statistics; rice-

boats and export of rice II-Steps taken on the opening of the river; steamers employed; hulks; general review of the trade; comparison of trade routes (sent to Foreign Office in No. 152 of the 3rd November, 1897); comparative cost of carriage; trade between Wuchow and Nauning; prospects of trade in South-east China

III-Particulars of trade; imports; tso-li taxation and sale of goods en route; miscellaneous

imports; mills in Hong Kong; duty on colonial-dyed cottons IV-Exports; restrictions on outward transit passes; issue of outward transit passes; export of

coal, silk, cassia, native opium; silver inine; matches

V.-Carrying trade; passengers; route viâ Fatshan; West River Regulations; exports to Kongnum (rhea fibre); trade via Canton, Mr. Wang's schemes; carring trade to Nanning; effect of a railway from Pakhoi

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VI.-Customs statistics; complaints against Customs bank and employés VIL-Missionary matters; intercourse with officials; school for English VIII.--Sites and balidings

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