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front approach to the harbour, used only by light-draft steamers. This obstruction I understand will be somewhat difficult to deal with, as the river in this part has seriously silted up. It is allowed, however, that the removal of this obstruction on this side of the approach to the harbour would create such a scour that it could not fail to have a beneficial effect in removing a vast amount of the silt which has recently accumulated, alike in the harbour itself and in both approaches between Whampoa and Canton.
In my negotiations in respect to the removal of the barriers, I shall carefully bear in mind your instructions that the cost of their removal shall not be defrayed by a tax on shipping or merchandise; but that the work must be undertaken and accomplished at the expense of the Chinese Government itself. Harbour improvements come under a different category. The universal feeling is, however, that until full effect has been allowed to the operation of nature in scouring the river, consequent on the removal of the barriers, no action need be taken; and in this opinion I fully concur.
I have, &c.
3
with the Commissioner of Customs, asking him to devise a satisfactory arrangement for carrying out these two provisions of the Treaty.
Now, on receipt of your despatch, I have again written to the Hoppo, desiring him to immediately request the Commissioner of Customs to take steps as soon as possible to give effect to Articles III and V of the new Commercial Treaty between Great Britain and China, and on receipt of his reply, I shall address you again on the matter.
I have, &c.
(Seal of the Viceroy).
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
JAMES SCOTT.
Sir,
Consul-General Scott to Viceroy, Canton.
Canton, September 24, 1903,
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have received instructions from His Majesty's Minister in Peking to bring to your Excellency's notice the stipulations laid down in Articles III and V of the Commercial Treaty recently entered into by the Governments of China and Great Britain, which has now been duly ratified.
According to Article III, China agrees that the duties and li-kin combined on goods carried by junks from Hong Kong to the Treaty Ports in the Canton Province, and vice versa, shall together not be less than the duties charged by the Imperial Maritime Customs on similar goods carried by steamer.
In Article V, so far as it affects the Province of Kuangtung, it is provided that- The Chinese Government undertake to remove, within the next two years, the artificial obstructions to navigation in the Canton River. The Chinese Government also agree to improve the accommodation for shipping in the harbour of Canton, &c.
With regard to the stipulations concerning the equality of taxation on junk and steamer-borne goods, and the removal of the artificial obstructions to navigation in the Canton River, I have the honour to request your Excellency to inform me what steps have been taken by your Excellency with a view to fulfilling these pledges of your Government.
With respect to the improvement of the harbour of Canton, I am prepared, in obedience to the instructions of His Majesty's Minister, to consult with your Excellency at an early date as to the scheme which should be adopted.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
JAMES SCOTT.
Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Viceroy, Canton, to Consul-General Scott.
October 1, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 24th September, informing me that you have received instructions from His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Peking to bring to my notice the terms of Articles III and V of the Commercial Treaty made in Shanghae last year between China and Great Britain, which has now been duly ratified by both Governments; and requesting me to communicate to you what action I am taking with regard to those two Articles.
In reply, I have the honour to state that recently, on receiving a despatch from the Wai-wu Pu on the subject, I immediately requested the Hoppo to communicate
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front approach to the harbour, used only by light-draft steamers. This obstruction I understand will be somewhat difficult to deal with, as the river in this part has seriously silted up. It is allowed, however, that the removal of this obstruction on this side of the approach to the harbour would create such a scour that it could not fail to have a beneficial effect in removing a vast amount of the silt which has recently accumulated, alike in the harbour itself and in both approaches between Whampoa and Canton.
In my negotiations in respect to the removal of the barriers, I shall carefully bear in mind your instructions that the cost of their removal shall not be defrayed by a tax on shipping or merchandise; but that the work must be undertaken and accomplished. at the expense of the Chinese Government itself. Harbour improvements come under a different category. The universal feeling is, however, that until full effect has been allowed to the operation of nature in scouring the river, cousequent on the removal of the barriers, no action need be taken; and in this opinion I fully concur.
I have, &c.
3
with the Commissioner of Customs, asking him to devise a satisfactory arrangement for carrying out these two provisions of the Treaty.
Now, on receipt on your despatch, I have again written to the Hoppo, desiring him to immediately request the Commissioner of Customs to take steps as soon as possible to give effect to Articles III and V of the new Commercial Treaty between Great Britain and China, and on receipt of his reply, I shall address you again on
I have, &c.
(Seal of the Viceroy).
the matter.
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
JAMES SCOTT.
Sir,
Consul-General Scott to Viceroy, Canton.
Canton, September 24, 1903,
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have received instructions from His Majesty's Minister in Peking to bring to your Excellency's notice the stipula- tions laid down in Articles III and V of the Commercial Treaty recently entered into by the Governments of China and Great Britain, which has now been duly ratified.
According to Article III, China agrees that the duties and li-kin combined on goods carried by junks from Hong Kong to the Treaty Ports in the Canton Province, and vice versa, shall together not be less than the duties charged by the Imperial Maritime Customs on similar goods carried by steamer.
In Article V, so far as it affects the Province of Kuangtung, it is provided that- The Chinese Government undertake to remove, within the next two years, the artificial obstructions to navigation in the Canton River. The Chinese Government also agree to improve the accommodation for shipping in the harbour of Canton, &c.
With regard to the stipulations concerning the equality of taxation on junk and steamer-borne goods, and the removal of the artificial obstructions to navigation in the Canton River, I have the honour to request your Excellency to inform me what steps have been taken by your Excellency with a view to fulfilling these pledges of your Government.
With respect to the improvement of the harbour of Canton, I am prepared, in obedience to the instructions of His Majesty's Minister, to consult with your Excellency at an early date as to the scheme which should be adopted.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
JAMES SCOTT.
Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Viceroy, Canton, to Consul-General Scott.
October 1, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 24th September, informing me that you have received instructions from His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Peking to bring to my notice the terms of Articles III and V of the Commercial Treaty made in Shanghae last year between China and Great Britain, which has now been duly ratified by both Governments; and requesting me to communicate to you what action I am taking with regard to those two Articles.
In reply, I have the honour to state that recently, on receiving a despatch from the Wai-wu Pu on the subject, I immediately requested the Hoppo to communicate
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