3
HINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[March 19.]
ACTION 3. 13209 115 ACTION
Sir J. Mackay to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received March 19.)
266 9 A
7, Seamore Place, London, March 17, 1903.
My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Campbell's letter of yesterday's date, covering copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, together with copy of a despatch from Sir Henry Blake, Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 31st January last, giving his views on the new Commercial Treaty with China, which, I am glad to observe, are generally favourable.
As regards Rule No. 8 of the new Inland Waters Steam Navigation Rules, this Rule was framed with the object of getting rid of the disability, which had been imposed by the Chinese, on steamers engaged in trade between Treaty ports from doing trade at intermediate places—a prohibition which had not only entailed serious loss on some British ship-owners in China, but had also retarded the development of trade generally.
Under the new Rule 8, a registered steamer may now ply: Within the waters of a port;
Or from one open port or ports to another open port or ports:
Or from one open port or ports to places inland, and thence back to such port or ports.
She may land or ship passengers or cargo at any recognized places of trade passed in the course of the voyage, that is to say, she may trade at all places where native craft trade.
The only restriction now placed upon a steamer trading on the inland waters of China, so far as places of trade goes, is that she may not ply exclusively between inland places without the consent of the Chinese Government. That is to say, suppose A, B, C, and D are Treaty ports, she may not ply between two places between A and B, or between B and C, or between C and D, or between places higher up than D, without returning to one of the Treaty ports, unless she has the authority of the Chinese Government.
The Chinese professed to be afraid that foreign vessels might establish themselves on stations away from the Treaty ports, and away from Consular control, and occasion trouble, and this objection was surmounted by my proposing that they should allow us to trade at places between and beyond Treaty ports, provided that the steamers returned to Treaty ports, unless specially permitted to remain away—a condition which would involve no practical interference with trade.
As your Lordship surmises, the stipulation in Rule No. 8 was expressly framed to guard against any attempt on the part of the Chinese to continue the prohibition which, under the old rules, prevented registered vessels from trading at places between Treaty ports when passing such places in the course of their voyages, and it will only be necessary to adhere to the new Rule No. 8 to prevent a return to the former disability.
I have, &c. (Signed) JAS. L. MACKAY,
[1880 t-3]
3
HINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[March 19.]
NCTION 3. 13209 115 ACTION
Sir J. Mackay to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received March 19.)
266 9 A
7, Seamore Place, London, March 17, 1903.
My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Campbell's letter of yesterday's date, covering copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, together with copy of a despatch from Sir Henry Blake, Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 31st January last, giving his views on the new Commercial Treaty with China, which, I am glad to observe, are generally favourable.
As regards Rule No. 8 of the new Inland Waters Steam Navigation Rules, this Rule was framed with the object of getting rid of the disability, which had been imposed by the Chinese, on steamers engaged in trade between Treaty ports from doing trade at intermediate places-a prohibition which had not only entailed serious loss on some British ship-owners in China, but had also retarded the development of trade generally.
Under the new Rule 8, a registered steamer may now ply- Within the waters of a port;
Or from one open port or ports to another open port or ports:
Or from one open port or ports to places inland, and thence back to such port or ports.
She may land or ship passengers or cargo at any recognized places of trade passed in the course of the voyage, that is to say, she may trade at all places where native craft trade.
The only restriction now placed upon a steamer trading on the inland waters of China, so far as places of trade goes, is that she may not ply exclusively between inland places without the consent of the Chinese Government. That is to say, suppose A, B, C, and D are Treaty ports, she may not ply between two places between A and B, or between B and C, or between C and D, or between places higher up than D, without returning to one of the Treaty ports, unless she has the authority of the Chinese Government.
The Chinese professed to be afraid that foreign vessels might establish them- selves on stations away from the Treaty ports, and away from Consular control, and occasion trouble, and this objection was surmounted by my proposing that they should allow us to trade at places between and beyond Treaty ports, provided that the steamers returned to Treaty ports, unless specially permitted to remain away-a con- dition which would involve no practical interference with trade.
As your Lordship surmises, the stipulation in Rule No. 8 was expressly framed to guard against any attempt on the part of the Chinese to continue the prohibition which, under the old rules, prevented registered vessels from trading at places between Treaty ports when passing such places in the course of their voyages, and it will only be necessary to adhere to the new Rule No. 8 to prevent a return to the former disability.
I have, &c. (Signed) JAS. L. MACKAY,
[1880 t-3]
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