[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[29109]
No. 1.
618
[August 27.]
SECTION CO.
33355
READ
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 27.) RE 10 SEP 06
(No. 299.) Sir,
WITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 284 of the 21st August, 1905, and to Lord Lansdowne's reply No. 238 of the 25th October, on the subject of a scheme for the simultaneous collection of li-kin and other taxes on native opium in eight provinces of South and Mid China, I have the honour to inclose a précis translation of documents referring to a modification of this scheme, which has been sanctioned by an Imperial Rescript dated the 7th May of this year. Memorial of the Finance Council and a Memorial and Regulations of K'o Feng-Shih, The documents translated are a the Imperial Commissioner for the taxation of native opium.
The new scheme provides for the taxation of all native opium in the eighteen provinces at the rate of 115 taels a picul, this tax to be leviable at the first barrier en route, and to entitle the opium to be carried to any part of China further impost of any kind. The appointment of an Administrator-General to reside proper without at Peking indicates more clearly that the revenue arrangements with regard to opium are intended to be under the control of the Central Government and to be withdrawn from the fiscal authority of the provinces.
I also inclose, for your information, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang dated the 22nd June, from which it would appear that the new scheme was put into force at that port on the 17th June.
As I had the honour to inform you in my telegram No. 130 of the 2nd July, I am informed privately by Mr. Tong Shao Yi that the Chinese Government are considering a scheme for restricting the consumption of opium, and that they intend when the scheme is ripe to approach His Majesty's Government on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorial of the Finance Council, dealing with the Proposals of K'o Feng-Shih, Junior Vice-President of the Board of Revenue, with regard to Opium Taxation,
(Précis Translation.)
THESE proposals, drawn up in six Articles, aimed at reducing the opium trade, with its attendant evils, by increasing the burdens of taxation, firstly on the native, and secondly on the imported drug.
The question of increasing the duties on imported opium was first raised by the Chinese Minister to Italy in 1903, and was referred by the Chinese Minister to Great Britain to the Government of that country, who replied that equity demanded an equal increase of the dues on the native as well as the imported drug.
At the beginning of the present year K'o Feng-Shih's proposals for the revision of the foreign opium tariff were submitted to the Throne.
This whole question in its relation to earlier precedent will need careful consideration; in the meantime the proposals are dealt with one by one:--
(a.) The proposed institution of a universal tariff, irrespective of the province in which the drug is produced and the province in which it is sold. For every 100 taels of taxation on the drug an additional 15 taels is to be exacted for expenses, but Treasury taels may be accepted in place of Haikuan taels.
The enforcement of this uniform tariff over so large an area--for the scheme originally in force for eight out of the eighteen provinces is now to be extended with
[2105 dd-1]
B
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[29109]
No. 1.
618
[August 27.]
SECTION CO.
33355
READ
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 27.) RE 10 SEP 06
(No. 299.) Sir,
WITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 284 of the 21st August, 1905, and
Peking, July 11, 1906. to Lord Lansdowne's reply No. 238 of the 25th October, on the subject of a scheme for the simultaneous collection of li-kin and other taxes on native opium in eight provinces of South and Mid China, I have the honour to inclose a précis translation of documents referring to a modification of this scheme, which has been sanctioned by an Imperial Rescript dated the 7th May of this year. Memorial of the Finance Council and a Memorial and Regulations of Ko Feng-Shib, The documents translated are a the Imperial Commissioner for the taxation of native opium.
The new scheme provides for the taxation of all native opium in the eighteen provinces at the rate of 115 taels a picul, this tax to be leviable at the first barrier en route, and to entitle the opium to be carried to any part of China further impost of any kind. The appointment of an Administrator-General to reside proper without at Peking indicates more clearly that the revenue arrangements with regard to opium are intended to be under the control of the Central Government and to be withdrawn from the fiscal authority of the provinces.
I also inclose, for your information, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang dated the 22nd June, from which it would appear that the new scheme was put into force at that port on the 17th June.
As I had the honour to inform you in my telegram No. 130 of the 2nd July, I am informed privately by Mr. Tong Shoa Yi that the Chinese Government are considering a scheme for restricting the consumption of opium, and that they intend when the scheme is ripe to approach His Majesty's Government on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorial of the Finance Council, dealing with the Proposals of K'o Feng-Shih, Junior Vice-President of the Board of Revenue, with regard to Opium Taxation,
(Précis Translation.)
THESE proposals, drawn up in six Articles, aimed at reducing the opium trade, with its attendant evils, by increasing the burdens of taxation, firstly on the native, and secondly on the imported drag.
The question of increasing the duties on imported opium was first raised by the the Chinese Minister to Italy in 1903, and was referred by the Chinese Minister to Great Britain to the Government of that country, who replied that equity demanded au equal increase of the dues on the native as well as the imported drug.
At the beginning of the present year K'o Feng-Shih's proposals for the revision of
the foreign opium tariff were submitted to the Throne.
This whole question in its relation to earlier precedent will need careful consideration; in the meantime the proposals are dealt with one by one :--
(a.) The proposed institution of a universal tariff, irrespective of the province in which the drug is produced and the province in which it is sold. For every 100 taels of taxation on the drug an additional 15 taels is to be exacted for expenses, but Treasury taels may be accepted in place of Haikuan taels,
The enforcement of this uniform tariff over so large an area-for the scheme originally in force for eight out of the eighteen provinces is now to be extended with
[2105 dd-1]
B
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