good one, but said they had no guarantee that their goods, once having paid the full duty, would not be subjected to all kinds of inspection, and consequent delay and expense, en route; pointing out that not only were they liable to examination at barriers as formerly, but that guard-boats were now empowered to stop and overhaul their cargo-boats at will.
They instanced a case which happened the other day where a merchant, having paid full "Tungshui" at Nanning on a boat-load of native produce, saw his entire cargo confiscated at a barrier because the captain of the boat was found to be carrying some undeclared cargo on his own account. My informants added that goods under transit pass were, doubtless, liable to similar inspection at barriers, but they significantly remarked the officials took good care not to detain them longer than was absolutely necessary.
The immediate result of the new tariff has been that the quantity of goods sent inland and native produce exported under transit pass has increased over 50 per cent. during the last three months; and that native goods, such as Fatshan cloth and Samshui tobacco, which have hitherto come up by junk, are now being sent down to Hong Kong in order to acquire a foreign character, and return by steamer to Wuchow, whence they are forwarded into the interior under transit pass.
The present case is, I venture to think, a striking example of the difficulties which will beset the Chinese Government in the course of their efforts to simplify and co-ordinate the internal taxation of the country. Any Regulations framed to this end are likely to prove ineffective owing to the practical impossibility of securing honest administration in the lower ranks of the native Customs, and the deep-seated distrust with which the merchant classes regard any new departure under the management of their own officials.
Page 464
[August 12.]
SECTION 2 2 SEP 041
Acting Consul-General Playfair to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received August 12.)
(No. 3.) My Lord,
Hankow, July 4, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to report that Changsha, the capital of Hunan, was opened to trade under the Japanese Treaty of the 8th October, 1903, on the 1st July.
The formal opening of the port was signified by the hoisting of the Chinese national flag over the Custom-house by the Chinese Superintendent of Customs, on which a salute was fired by His Majesty's ship "Teal," the only foreign man-of-war present. Mr. Vice-Consul Savage, of this Consulate-General, was on His Majesty's ship "Teal."
I am sending a similar report to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. M. H. PLAYFAIR.
[2103 m-2]
Page 465
2
good one, but said they had no guarantee that their goods, once having paid the full duty, would not be subjected to all kinds of inspection, and consequent delay and expense, en route; pointing out that not only were they liable to examination at barriers as formerly, but that guard-boats were now empowered to stop and overhaul their cargo-boats at will.
They instanced a case which happened the other day where a merchant, having paid full "Tungshui" at Nanning on a boat-load of native produce, saw his entire cargo con- fiscated at a barrier because the captain of the boat was found to be carrying some undeclared cargo on his own account. My informants added that goods under transit pass were, doubtless, liable to similar inspection at barriers, but they significantly remarked the officials took good care not to detain them longer than was absolutely
necessary.
The immediate result of the new tariff has been that the quantity of goods sent inland and native produce exported under transit pass has increased over 50 per cent. during the last three months; and that native goods, such as Fatshan cloth and Samshui tobacco, which have hitherto come up by junk, are now being sent down to Hong Kong in order to acquire a foreign character, and return by steamer to Wuchow, whence they are forwarded into the interior under transit pass.
The present case is, I venture to think, a striking example of the difficulties which will beset the Chinese Government in the course of their efforts to simplify and co-ordi nate the internal taxation of the country. Any Regulations framed to this end are likely to prove ineffective owing to the practical impossibility of securing honest administra tion in the lower ranks of the native Customs, and the deep-seated distrust with which the merchant classes regard any new departure under the management of their own officials.
The Doomex
CHINA TRADE.
ONFIDENTIAL.
Atency of Bis Entenzio Dojosly a
C. O.
30705
No. 1.
464
[August 12.]
SECTION 2 2 SEP 041
Acting Consul-General Playfair to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received August 12.)
(No. 3.) My Lord,
Hankow, July 4, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to report that Changsha, the capital of Hunan, was opened to trade under the Japanose Treaty of the 8th October, 1903, on the 1st July.
The formal opening of the port was signified by the hoisting of the Chinese national flag over the Custom-house by the Chinese Superintendent of Customs, on which a salute was fired by His Majesty's ship "Teal," the only foreign man-of-war present. Mr. Vice-Consul Savage, of this Consulate-General, was on His Majesty's
ship
"Teal."
I am sending a similar report to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. M. H. PLAYFAIR.
[2103 m-2]
* it?p= i3*2P3=2་ ་ ་ ་ ་ ་ ་ ་
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