CO129-295 - Public Offices - 1899 — Page 676

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

672

Consul General at Shanghai.

The question is one of considerable difficulty owing to the fact that Steamers trading between Treaty Ports are for purposes of taxation dealt with by the Imperial Maritime Customs, whilst vessels licensed for inland navigation come under the provincial customs, and that in the opinion of the Inspector General of Maritime Customs it is necessary for revenue reasons that the two branches of traffic should be kept distinct.

Mr. Bax-Ironside expressed the opinion that sufficient time had not elapsed to afford a true test of the working of the Regulations, and in this view Lord Salisbury, after consultation with Sir Claude MacDonald, Her Majesty's Minister at Peking who was then at home on leave of absence concurred.

In the opinion of the British Naval Commander in Chief on the China Station no increase in the number of vessels engaged in the patrol of the West River will be effective to eradicate piracy without proper cooperation on the part of the Chinese authorities on shore, but it appears from a further despatch of Mr. Bax-Ironside, a copy of which is also enclosed, that some steps in this direction are at last being taken.

The printed enclosures in your letter are herewith returned as requested.

I am,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

Francis Bertie

Edit History

2026-05-31 13:13:12 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

672 Consul General at Shanghai. The question is one of considerable difficulty owing to the fact that Steamers trading between Treaty Ports are for purposes of taxation dealt with by the Imperial Maritime Customs, whilst vessels licensed for inland navigation come under the provincial customs, and that in the opinion of the Inspector General of Maritime Customs it is necessary for revenue reasons that the two branches of traffic should be kept distinct. Mr. Bax-Ironside expressed the opinion that sufficient time had not elapsed to afford a true test of the working of the Regulations, and in this view Lord Salisbury, after consultation with Sir Claude MacDonald, Her Majesty's Minister at Peking who was then at home on leave of absence concurred. In the opinion of the British Naval Commander in Chief on the China Station no increase in the number of vessels engaged in the patrol of the West River will be effective to eradicate piracy without proper cooperation on the part of the Chinese authorities on shore, but it appears from a further despatch of Mr. Bax-Ironside, a copy of which is also enclosed, that some steps in this direction are at last being taken. The printed enclosures in your letter are herewith returned as requested. I am, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, Francis Bertie

Baseline (Original)

672 Consul General at Shanghai. The question is one of considerable difficulty owing to the fact that Steamers trading between Treaty Ports are for purposes of taxation dealt with by the Imperial Maritime Customs, whilst ves- sels licensed for inland navigation come under the provincial customs, and that in the opinion of the Inspector General of Maritime Customs it is neces- sary for revenue reasons that the two branches of traffic should be kept distinct. Mr. Bax-Ironside expressed the opinion that aufficient time had not elapsed to afford a true test of the working of the Regulations, and in this view Lord Salisbury, after consultation with Sir Claude MacDonald, Her Majesty's Minister at Peking who was then at home on leave of absence concurred. In the opinion of the British Naval Commander in Chief on the China Station no increase in the number of vessels engaged in the patrol of the Weat River will be effective to eradicate piracy without proper cooperation on the part of the Chinese author- ities on shore, but it appears from a further des- patch of Mr. Bax-Ironside, a copy of which is also enclosed, that some steps in this direction are at last being taken. The printed enclosures in your letter are herewith returned as requested. I am, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, Francis Bertie proper

2026-05-31 13:13:12 · Baseline

View content

672

Consul General at Shanghai.

The question is one of considerable difficulty

owing to the fact that Steamers trading between

Treaty Ports are for purposes of taxation dealt

with by the Imperial Maritime Customs, whilst ves-

sels licensed for inland navigation come under the

provincial customs, and that in the opinion of the

Inspector General of Maritime Customs it is neces-

sary for revenue reasons that the two branches of

traffic should be kept distinct.

Mr. Bax-Ironside expressed the opinion that

aufficient time had not elapsed to afford a true

test of the working of the Regulations, and in

this view Lord Salisbury, after consultation with

Sir Claude MacDonald, Her Majesty's Minister at

Peking who was then at home on leave of absence

concurred.

In the opinion of the British Naval Commander

in Chief on the China Station no increase in the

number of vessels engaged in the patrol of the Weat

River will be effective to eradicate piracy without

proper cooperation on the part of the Chinese author-

ities on shore, but it appears from a further des-

patch of Mr. Bax-Ironside, a copy of which is also

enclosed, that some steps in this direction are at

last being taken.

The printed enclosures in your letter are

herewith returned as requested.

I am,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

Francis Bertie

proper

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.