[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6692]
[B]
No. 1.
February 24
8499
&
SECTION 1E2 10 MAR 06.
198
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey,- (Received February 24.)
(No. 451.) Sir,
Peking, December 26, 1905.
WITH reference to the last two paragraphs of my despatch to the Marquess of Lansdowne No. 418 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang, and of my reply respecting the proposed new levy for the maintenance of tracking paths and other improvements on the Yang-tsze.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ERNEST SATOW
(No. 16.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Fox to Sir E. Satow.
Ichung, November 19, 1905.
MR. OTTEWILL, in his Intelligence Report for the March quarter, 1905, referred to the construction of a tracking path through the Yang-tsze gorges between Ichang and Kueifu. He mentioned that a sum of 30,000 taels had been subscribed by various officials, and that the work had been put in the charge of Fu Ting Chen, Brigadier-General of Lehang.
With this money a considerable stretch of new road has been constructed and existing paths have been repaired. With the object of raising a permanent fund for the upkeep of these paths and other improvements, the original subscribers, headed by Li Min Chen, Provincial Treasurer of Hupei and Yu Shao K'ang, the late Ching Chou Taotai, both natives of Szechuan, have obtained the Viceroy's permission to establish a Pao Lu Chu, or Road Maintenance Office, at Ichang, which will be authorized to levy a small fee on all vessels proceeding up-river; proceeds to be devoted to the upkeep and extension of existing pathways and the erection of certain aids to navigation, such as hand-capstans with wire hawsers, at the most dangerous rapids. The expectant Prefect, Chan Te Ping, until lately Department Magistrate at Kuei Chou, has been appointed Deputy in charge.
The Ching Chou Taotai, in a despatch to my predecessor dated the 29th October, copy and translation of which I have the honour to inclose, outlines the scheme and asks me to approve of the proposed fees being levied on vessels chartered by British firms. The ten Regulations he refers to, wherein the scheme is discussed in detail, have since undergone considerable alteration, and as I am promised a copy of the amended rules in a few days' time, I do not inclose the original draft, but will forward copy and translation of the new Regulations as soon as I receive them.
The proposed levy of 4 cash per tiao (1,000 cash) of freight, to be divided between shipper and junk-master, was soon found to be quite impracticable. I understand that the foreign Customs have now been asked to undertake the collection of these "subscriptions," undoubtedly the only practical method of raising the money. The levy will in effect take the form of a small increase in the port dues at present collected by the Maritime Customs on behalf of the Chao Kuan, or Native Customs. The present dues amount, roughly speaking, to 150 cash per ton measurement on junks under 10 tons, and 200 cash per ton on junks exceeding that tonnage. It is proposed to collect an additional four-tenths, making the total dues payable 210 cash and 280 cash per ton respectively. Separate receipts will be issued, and the money thus collected will, as at present arranged, be handed over to the Pao Lu Chi. As chartered junks will naturally be included in the levy, it becomes, as a matter of fact, a small additional tax on foreign goods.
The question naturally arises, have the Chinese authorities the right to impose such extra tax, however small and however worthy its object, without the consent of
[1878 ua-1]
B
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6692]
[B]
No. 1.
February 24
8499
&
SECTION 1E2 10 MAR 06.
198
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey,- (Received February 24.)
(No. 451.) Sir,
Peking, December 26, 1905. WITH reference to the last two paragraphs of my despatch to the Marquess of Lansdowne No. 418 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang, and of my reply respecting the proposed new levy for the maintenance of tracking paths and other improvements on the Yang-tsze.
I have, &c. (Signed)
(No. 16.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Fox to Sir E. Satow.
ERNEST SATOW
Ichung, November 19, 1905. MR. OTTEWILL, in his Intelligence Report for the March quarter, 1905, referred to the construction of a tracking path through the Yang-tsze gorges between Ichang and Kueifu. He mentioned that a sum of 30,000 taels had been subscribed by various officials, and that the work had been put in the charge of Fu Ting Chen, Brigadier-General of Lehang.
With this money a considerable stretch of new road has been constructed and existing paths have been repaired. With the object of raising a permanent fund for the upkeep of these paths and other improvements, the original subscribers, headed by Li Min Chen, Provincial Treasurer of Hupei and Yu Shao K'ang, the late Ching Chou Taotai, both natives of Szechuan, have obtained the Viceroy's permission to establish a Pao Lu Chu, or Road Maintenance Office, at lehang, which will be authorized to levy a small fee on all vessels proceeding up-river; proceeds to be devoted to the upkeep and extension of existing pathways and the erection of certain aids to navigation, such as hand-capstans with wire hawsers, at the most dangerous rapids. The expectant Prefect, Chan Te Ping, until lately Department Magistrate at Kuei Chou, has been appointed Deputy in charge.
The Ching Chou Taotai, in a despatch to my predecessor dated the 29th October, copy and translation of which I have the honour to inclose, outlines the scheme and asks me to approve of the proposed fees being levied on vessels chartered by British firms, The ten Regulations he refers to, wherein the scheme is discussed in detail, have since undergone considerable alteration, and as I am promised a copy of the amended rules in a few days' time, I do not inclose the original draft, but will forward copy and translation of the new Regulations as soon as I receive them.
The proposed levy of 4 cash per tiao (1,000 cash) of freight, to be divided between shipper and junk-master, was soon found to be quite impracticable. I understand that the foreign Customs have now been asked to undertake the collection of these "sub- scriptions," undoubtedly the only practical method of raising the money. The levy will in effect take the form of a small increase in the port dues at present collected by the Maritime Customs on behalf of the Chao Kuan, or Native Customs. The present dues amount, roughly speaking, to 150 cash per ton measurement on junks under 10 tons, and 200 cash per too on junks exceeding that tonnage. It is proposed to collect an additional four-tenths, making the total dues payable 210 cash and 280 cash per ton respectively. Separate receipts will be issued, and the money thus collected will, as at present arranged, be handed over to the Pao Lu Chi. As chartered junks will naturally be included in the levy, it becomes, as a matter of fact, a small additional tax on foreign goods.
The question naturally arises, have the Chinese authorities the right to impose such extra tax, however small and however worthy its object, without the consent of
[1878 ua-1]
B
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