6.0.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Ka Du, and the arsenal wharves, and tide records kept for over a month at each place. Sounding lines have been run, about 100 feet apart, from the lower end of Kinleeyuen Wharf to Pailien Creek (24 miles). Deep water soundings were fixed by sextant angles, shallow soundings by actual measurement from both banks of the river; junks and sampans anchored in the way much retarded work off the Chinese bund. Shore lines (wharves, jetties, bunding) were measured from the low end of the French bund to the upper end of the native waterworks (23 miles) on the Shanghae side, and from Pailien Creek to Yangking Creek (54 miles) on Pootung side, excepting Pootung Point.
Woosung outer bar was resounded and plotted in September to ascertain last half- year's changes, and Foochow poles, 9 feet long, placed between Telegraph and bar stations as fixed marks for cross-section lines. Marks were placed on the upper and lower ends of Gough Island to indicate the parts required for conservancy work, also for land required at Kajao Creek. Six cross-sections, 400 feet out in the river, were taken at Black Point, Pootung side, plotted, and handed to the engineer-in-chief. The parts of the river from Woosung outer bar to the point and from the French bund to Pailien Creek are completed (plotted and inked in).
The Chinese gun-boat Loong Shiang" was returned to Admiral Sah on the 28th September.
Work has been considerably delayed by the illness of two out of our three tracers. M. de Ryke writes:--
Compared with the survey made in February last, I am much pleased to be able to say that, during the last half-year, the outer bar has not in any way grown worse.” 5. Expenditure. A statement for the period under review is sent herewith.
We have, &c. (Signed)
JUI CHENG.
H. E. HOBSON.
Members of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
STATEMENTS of Receipts and Expenditure of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board during September Quarter 1906.
RECEIPTS-
Balance from June quarter
(a.) Superintendent on Account Grant
(b) Unclassed: Sundry receipts
(e.) Gain by exchange
Rept..
Haikwan
Flaikwan
Taels C.
Taels
1,293 27
34,058 taels 64 c. 9,980 taels 70 c.
44,038 84
41 00
Total net receipts September quarter Advances repaid
44.042 84
Total
44,042 84 492 04
45,828 15
:
Special: Loss by exchange
་་
125,28 taels 47 c.
1724
9,827 taels 25 c.
EXPENDITURE—-
Salaries
Transport
Plant: Cost and maintenance
Houses, furniture, &c.
Ordinary Stores, &c.; miscellaneous
4,475 taela 63 c.
Total net expenditure September quarter Advances lent
Balance carried forward
21,810 72
638 17 1,100 45 10,625 50
504 50
Total
692 taels 95 c.
5,168 58
39,847 92
39 847
1,666 66
45,514 58 4,313 57
40,828 15
92
(Signed)
H. E. HOBSON,
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4403)
C. O.
8374
[February 9.]
REC
SECTION 3.
8 6 MAR 07,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received February 9, 1907.)
(No. 549.)
Peking, December 25, 1906. Sir,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith, copy of a letter which has been addressed to Consul-General Sir Pelham Warren by the Chairman of the Shanghae- branch of the China Association on the subject of Sir Robert Hart's recent Circular dealing with the changes in the Customs Administration. The Association consider that the situation is not improved by the Circular and are of opinion that the recent Edict means the thin end of the wedge."
In this connection I may say that comments on the Customs question not infrequently appear in the foreign press in China that are based on a misapprehension. Thus the "North China Daily News," in a recent issue, refers in strong terms to the appointment of a Chinese Commissioner of Customs to Yatung. The writer of the article was doubtless unaware of the understanding embodied in the notes exchanged between Sir E. Satow and Mr. Tong after the signature of the Thibet Adhesion Agreement, according to which none but Chinese subjects were to be employed in Thibet in any capacity.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
China Association (Shanghae Branch), to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.
Shanghae, December 5, 1906. I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice that my Committee are of opinion that the Circular issued by Sir Robert Hart to the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of the Customs Service, inspired as it evidently is by the Chinese Government, does not improve the position with regard to the Imperial Edict issued in connection with the control of the Service.
+
The Imperial Edict distinctly stated that the control of the Customs Service - would pass into the hands of the Shui-wu Ch'u, represented by Tieb Liang and Tang Shao-i, and no amount of verbal assurance that no change is intended can alter that fact.
It is the opinion of my Committee that the Edict means the thin end of the wedge and was issued as a feeler and with a view to curtailing the Inspector-General's authority, eventually placing it in the hands of the Chinese.
If the Wai-wu Pu is honest in its declaration that the transfer of control will not entail changes in relations, or procedure generally, there can be no reason why the Edict should not be rescinded, and there is no reason why the Powers should not insist upon that course being followed,
In the future the fact of an Imperial Edict being in existence will quite outweigh the fact that ambiguous verbal assurances were given, and it moreover will probably be argued that the givers of these assurances had no power to do so.
In conclusion, my Committee wish to state that the Edict of the 9th May was, and is, calculated materially to affect the established administration of the Imperial Maritime Customs and to prejudice the interests of the bondholders and traders, and further recognizes that the Circular issued to the Service by the British Inspector- General, which acquiesces in the action of the Chinese Government, renders it difficult for the British Government or others concerned to take further action in the matter pending definite violation of the Chinese Government's verbal reassurances.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. B. SKOTTOWE, Chairman.
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