15
Annex B (3).
441
(Translation.)
Li, President of the Board of Works;
14
Annex B (1).
Sheng, Junior Guardian of the Heir-Apparent, Vice-President of Board of Works;
Imperial Chinese Commissioners for dealing with questions connected with Commercial Treaties; to
Sir James L. Mackay, His Britannic Majesty's Special Commissioner.
(Tration.)
President of the Board of Works;
ang, Junior Guardiau of the Heir-Apparent, Vice-President of the Board of Works:
Imperial Chinese Commissioners for dealing with questions connected with the Commercial Treaties; to
Sir James L. Mackay, His Britannic Majesty's Special Commissioner,
Shanghae, September 5, 1902. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of to-day's date with regard to the allocation of the surtax funds allotted to the Provinces, and to inform you that the views therein expressed are the same as our own.
Shanghas, September 2, 190 We have the honour to inform you that on the 22nd August we, in conjunction with Governors-General of the Liang Chiang and the Hu-kuang Provinces, their Excellencies Liations hitherto payable out of li-kin revenue. The amount, therefore, of the allocation due to Chang, addressed the following telegraphic Memorial to the Throne :----
"Of the revenue of the different provinces derived from li-kin of all kinds, a portion is a printed for the services of the foreign loans, a portion for the Peking Government, and the bat is reserved for the local expenditure of the provinces concerned.
"In the negotiations now being conducted with Great Britain for the amendment of Commercial Treaties, a mutual arrangement has been come to providing for the imposition additional taxes, in compensation for the abolition of all kinds of likin and other imposts goods prohibited by Article VIII. After payment of interest and sinking fund on the exist foreign loan to the extent to which li-kin is thereto pledged, these additional taxes shal allocated to the various provinces to make up deficiencies and replace revenue, in order that
hardships may be entailed on them. With a view to preserving the original intention underly the proposal to increase the duties in compensation for the loss of revenue derived frora l-kin other imposts on goods, it is further stipulated that the surtaxes shall not be appropriated other purposes, shall not form part of the Imperial Maritime Customs revenue proper, and sha no case be pledged as security for any new foreign loan.
"It is therefore necessary to memorialize for the issue of an Edict, giving effect to the ab stipulations and directing the Board of Revenue to find out what proportion of the provis revenues derived from R-kin of all kinds, now about to be abolished, each Province has hilli had to remit, and what proportion it has been entitled to retain, so that, when the A comes into operation, due apportionment may be made accordingly, thus providing the provid with funds available for local expenditure, and displaying equitable and just treats
towards all.”
On the 1st instant an Imperial Decres "Let action, as requested, be taken" was issued, we now do ourselves the honour reverently to transcribe the same for your information.
(Seal of the Imporial Commissioners for dealing with
questions connected with Treaty Revision.)
Gentlemen,
Annex B (2).
Shanghae, September 5, 1909 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 2nd instant forward the text of the Memorial and Decree dealing with the disposal of the surtaxes.
I understand that the surtaxes, in addition to not being pledged for any new foreign are not to be pledged to, or held to be security for, liabilities already contracted by Chiun exe in so far as li-kin revenue has already been pledged to an existing loan.
I also understand from the Memorial that the whole of the surtaxes provided by Article of the New Treaty goes to the Provinces in proportions to be agreed upon between thema the Board of Revenue, but that out of these surtaxes each Province is obliged to remit Peking the same contribution us that which it has hitherto remitted out of its l-kin collecti and that the Provinces also provide as hitherto out of these surtax funds whatever may necessary for the service of the foreign loan to which li-kin is partly pledged.
I hope your Excellencies will send me a reply to this despatch, and that you will agree this correspondence forming part of the Treaty as an Annex.
I have, &c.
Their Excellencies
Lü Hai-huan and Sheng Usüan-huaj,
&e.
&c.
&c.
We would, however, wish to point out that, were the whole amount of the allocation due paid over to the Provinces, unnecessary expense would be incurred in the retransmission by them of such portions thereof as would have to be remitted to Peking in place of the contribu-
the Provinces, arranged between them and the Board of Revenue, will be retained in the hands of the Maritime Customs, who will await the instructions of the provinces in regard to the remittance of such portion thereof as may be necessary to fulfil their obligations, and (on receipt of these instructions) will send forward the amount direct. The balance will be held to the order of the Provinces.
In so far as li-kin is pledged to the service of the 1898 loau, a similar method of procedure will be adopted.
As you request that this correspondence be annexed to the Treaty, we have the honour to state that we see no objection to this being done.
(Seal of the Imperial Commissioners for dealing with questions connected with Treaty Revision.)
Annex C.
INLAND WATERS STEAM NAVIGATION.
Additional Rules.
1. British steam-ship owners are at liberty to lease warehouses and jetties on the banks of waterways from Chinese subjects for a term not exceeding twenty-five years, with option of renewal on terms to be mutually arranged. In cases where British merchants are unable to secure warehouses and jetties from Chinese subjects on satisfactory terms, the local officials, after consultation with the Minister of Commerce, shall arrange to provide these on renewable lease, as above mentioned, at current equitable rates.
2. Jetties shall only be erected in such positions that they will not obstruct the inland water- way or interfere with navigation, and with the sanction of the nearest Commissioner of Customs; such sanction, however, shall not be arbitrarily withheld.
3. British merchants shall pay taxes and contributions on these warehouses and jetties on the same footing as Chinese proprietors of similar properties in the neighbourhood. British merchants may only employ Chinese agents and staff to reside in warehouses so leased at places touched at by steamers engaged in inland traffic to carry on their business; but British merchants may visit those places from time to time to look after their affairs. The existing rights of Chinese jurisdiction over Chinese subjects shall not by reason of this clause be diminished or interfered
with in any way,
4. Steam-vessels navigating the inland waterways of China shall be responsible for loss caused to riparian proprietors by damage which they may do to the banks or works on them, and for the loss which may be caused by such damage. In the event of China desiring to prohibit the use of some particular shallow waterway by launches, because there is reason to fear that the use of it by then would be likely to injure the banks and cause damage to the adjoining country, the British authorities, when appealed to, shall, if satisfied of the validity of the objection, prohibit the use of that waterway by British launches, provided that Chinese launches are also proliibited from
Both foreign and Chinese launches are prohibited from crossing dams and weirs at present in existence on inland waterways where they are likely to cause injury to such works, which would be detrimental to the water service of the local people.
(Signed) JAS. L. MACKAY using it.
5. The main object of the British Goverment in desiring to see the inland waterways of China opened to steam navigation being to afford facilities for the rapid transport of both foreign and native merchandise, they undertake to offer no impediment to the transfer to a Chinese Company and the Chinese flag of any British steamer which may now or hereafter be employed on the inland waters of China, should the owner be willing to make the transfer.
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