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it is not the provincial official, who is apprehensive of destruction of revenue, through foreign development, but the Officer of the Maritime Customs, who has gone out of his way to suggest difficulties.
The Steamship Companies, as shown in their letter of March 28, 1899 (China No.1 1900, p.188) are by no means unreasonable in their demands and simply claim approximate equality of treatment in the matter of taxation, and a full share of the privileges, granted to Chinese Steamers in the matter of towing and of calling at inland places en route.
In what follows I attempt to draw up a practicable scheme, which may go some way towards getting rid of a few of the present difficulties.
In order to do away with the disadvantages under which cargo, carried in vessels, entering the West River from Hongkong or Macao direct, labours, and at the same time to safeguard revenue interests, a suggestion has been made that the first stage Kongmoon be constituted a Treaty Port, and that dues on such goods as are destined for points higher up the river be paid there.
If it be found impossible to carry into execution the proposal, which I make later on, this would undoubtedly prove a step in the right direction. The suggestion is however open to objection, As in that case, Customs examination would have to take place on arrival there.
This would involve the discharge of at least a portion of the goods, thereby delaying the Steamer, increasing and exposing the packages to risk of damage, as there would be no representative of either consignor or consignee to assist at the examination, Kongmoon, in this respect, differs from Canton. The latter is a terminal point, where all cargo has of necessity to leave the Steamer and be redistributed. Only a small proportion of a Steamer's cargo would be destined for Kongmoon. The rest would, after examination, be re-shipped and pass on. The only possible way, by which this and other inconveniences of a like nature, can be obviated is to provide for Customs examination and payment of duty at the port of shipment, be it Hongkong or Macao. I am well aware of the very deep-rooted objection, entertained by these Colonies and more particularly by the Government thereof
to having any representatives of the Chinese Customs within their territory. But, to obtain a satisfactory solution of the West River question, it would be well worth while to stretch a point and endeavour to come to some understanding on the lines of the Opium Agreement of 1888.
The administration of the leased territory, which Germany lately acquired in Shantung, has led the way in this respect, and Lord Palmerston, in his instructions to Sir Pottinger, dated May 1st, 1841, has I think by his citation of European precedents
shown
fl
De ig
291
it is not the provincial official, who is apprehensive of destruction of revenue, through foreign development, but the Officer of the Maritise Customs, who has gone out of his way to suggest difficulties.
The Steamship Companies, as shown in their letter of March 28, 1899 (China No. 1 1900, p. 188) are by no means agreason- able in their demands and simply claim approximate equality of treat- ment in the matter of taxation, and a full share of the privileges, granted to Chinese Steamers in the matter of towing and of calling at inland places en route.
In what follows I attempt to draw up a practicable sobene, which may go some way towards getting rid of a few of the present difficulties.
In order to do away with the disadvantages under whiob cargo, carried in vessels, entering the West River from Hongkong or lacao direct, labours,and at the same time to safeguard revenus interests, a suggestion has been made that the first stage Kongmoon be constituted a Treaty Port, and that dues on such goods as are destined for points higher up the river be paid there.
If it be found impossible to carry into execution the proposal, which I make later on, this would undoubtedly prove a stop in the right direction. The suggestion is however open to objection, As in that case, Customs examination would have to take place on arrival there.
This would involve the discharge of at least a portion of the goods, thereby delaying the Steaner, increasing and exposing the packages to risk of damage, as there would be no representative of either consigner or consignee to assist at the examination, Kongmoon, in this respect, differs from Canton. The latter is a terminal point, where all cargo has of necessity to leave the Steamer and be redistributed. Only a small proportion of a Steamer's cargo would be destined for Kongnooo. The rest would, after examination, be re-shipped and pass on. The only possible way, by which this and other Iacoare- niences of a like nature, can be obviated is to provide for Custons examination and payment of duty at the port of shipment, be it Hong- kong or Macao. I am well aware of the very deep-rooted objection, entertained by these Colonies and more particularly by the Govern- ment thereof
to having any representatives of the Chinese Custoas within their territory. But, to obtain a satisfactory solution of the West River question, it would be well worth while to stretch a for points and endeavour to come to some understanding on the lines of the Opium Agreement of 1888.
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F
The administration of the leased territory, which Germany lately acquired in Shantung, has led the way in this respect,. and Lord Palmeraten, in his instructions to Sir Pattinger, dated May 1st., 1841, has I think by his citation of Ruropean precedents
shown
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