CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 206

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p.252.Encl.1

No.289

hand we have the steamers licensed under the Inland

Navigation Rules which may trade between Canton,

Wuchow, Samshui and non-Treaty Ports but may not

leave Chinese water.

The British and Foreign Merchant has also

this further grievance that while theoretically the

above Rule is the same for Chinese and Foreigners

-

in practice it is not so, because the Chinese in any

cases ignore the new Rule altogether a course which

reputable foreign traders refuse to adopt or else

have local li:kin dues altered in their favour and

to the detriment of the Foreigners.

In addition to the above, foreign inter-

port merchants have the further grievance that on cargo shipped by them they have to pay under Treaty an interport duty of 74 per cent,

bids, while

steamers licensed under the Inland Vavigation Rules pay to the Provincial Customs Administration a sun varying with the distance but over short distances

much less than 7 per cent.

This Rule operates with special hardship against foreign traders on the West River de to a large extent against Hong Kong Firms because the minimum inter-port Tariff of 7 per cent while reasonable enough between places 1500 miles apart 2.8. Canton and Neschwang is prohibitive as between the reaty Ports on the West River e.g. Canton,

Wuchow, Samshui and Kongmun.

It will be seen that

the

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