CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903 — Page 75

2

to its adoption. I accordingly instructed the Canton li-kin Office and Board of Reorgani zation to consult with the Commissioner of Customs and report to me what measures they considered necessary (for putting the plan into operation). I also telegraphed to the Wai-wu Pu for their instructions, and received a telegram in reply informing me that the Inspector-General had stated that he saw nothing in the proposal for the West River steamers to land and embark passengers calculated to injure the li-kin revenue, but that, owing to the uncertainty of the movements of pirates, the names of the proposed ports of call should be specified, in order to enable the adoption of preventive measures against piracy. I thereupon again requested the Commissioner of Customs, and instructed the li-kin Office and the Board of Reorganization to consult together and report to me what measures they considered necessary. The Commissioner of Customs recently replied stating that Fung Chuen, Do Sing, Sai Ning, Lo Ting Han, Luk To, Yuet Sing, Luk Pu, How Lik, Pak Tau Hau, Wing On, Ku Low, Kau Kong, Mah Ning, and Yung Ki, in all fourteen places, might be allowed as additional ports of call for passenger traffic, and requesting instructions as to what action he should take. Having, then, once more given this matter further and careful consideration, I found that, according to the investigations of the Commissioner of Customs, Fung Chuen has daily only some ten passengers; Sai Ning is but 20 li distant from Do Sing; Yuet Sing, Pak Tau Hau, Wing On, and Ku Low are either of small promise for trade or not available for much passenger traffic; and Lo Ting Hau has always been a famous resort of pirates, and that the question of the additional opening of these places should therefore be left for consideration at some later date, according to circumstances. For the present he proposed that Do Sing, Luk To, Luk Pu, How Lik, Kau Kong, Mah Ning, and Yung Ki, in all seven places, should be opened as additional ports of call for passenger traffic. Accordingly, I instructed Mr. Kung, Prefect of Kuang-chou Fu, to discuss with you the Regulations proposed, and received from him a reply to the effect that you considered them satisfactory, but that you desired to have Ynet Sing, where there is a flourishing trade, and at times a large passenger traffic, added to the places already granted, making in all a total of eight. Such being the case, the opening of the additional ports of call for passenger traffic in accordance with the Regulations agreed upon can be shortly effected. As regards Yuet Sing, since you are of opinion that it is a flourishing trading centre, and frequently has a large passenger traffic, I am agreeable to its being included in the number of additional ports

of call.

I have, in addition to forwarding a copy of the Regulations to the Wai-wu Pu for their consideration, requested the Commissioners of Customs at Canton, Samshui, and Wuchow to act in accordance therewith. Further, I have instructed the Canton Board of Reorganization, the li-kin Office, and the police and military authorities to give due effect to them.

I have the honour to address you this despatch for your consideration, and to request that you will communicate with the steamers "Sainam" and "Nanning," and call upon them to act in accordance with the Regulations.

A copy of the Regulations is inclosed.

3

At the above eight stations now opened, guard-boats will be anchored for pu otection.

4. In respect to the landing and embarking of passengers, the guard-boat officials will send police to examine the passenger sampans for bad characters and to search for arms. Should bad characters surreptitiously get on board the steamers with arms in their possession, the officers of the steamers must themselves make investigation and take pre- ventive measures.

5. Steamers passing Customs stations will duly stop in accordance with the Regnla- tions hitherto in force for examination, and the Customs may send officers to accompany the steamers for purpose of surveillance en route. Any one carrying goods unlawfully, or attempting to smuggle, will, on detection, be fined and punished in accordance with the Regulations.

6. Should any steamer engaged in the passenger traffic at the eight stations now opened fail to comply with the Regulations hereby drawn up, such steamer will be subject. to fine at the hands of the Commissioner of Customs according to Regulations, and the steamer's permit detained.

7. The present Regulations apply to the Kuang-tung Province; they are temporary, and introduced as an experiment. Hereafter, if they are found to interfere with the Customs revenue or li-kin, or if other difficulties should arise in connection therewith, these Regulations may then be abrogated.

Custom-house, Canton.

I have, &c.

(Seal of Viceroy.)

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Customs Notification.

NOTICE is hereby given that on and after the 12th January, 1903, eight additional passenger stations on the West River will be opened to steamers plying under the Provisional West River Regulations. The following are the Rules and Regulations to be observed :-

1. The following eight places on the West River, viz., Do Sing, Luk To, Yuet Sing, Lok Pu, How Lik, Kau Koug, Mah Ning, and Yung Ki, are hereby opened as additional passenger stations for steamers. At places other than the above named, steamers are not to stop without authority.

2. At the eight stations now opened steamers are only allowed to land and embark passengers. Steamers are not allowed to take treasure or cargo. This is in order to minimize the risk of piratical attacks, and also with a view to protecting the Customs revenue and li-kin.

71