I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of a further note which I have addressed to Prince Ch'ing on the subject of the levy of li-kin on duty-paid goods carried on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.
Peking, May 6, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 17th ultimo, relative to the levy of li-kin on duty-paid goods carried on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and in reply I am directed by the Board of Revenue to state that they have communicated with the Revenue Council on the subject.
The Revenue Council report that the conditions existing in the districts affected by the Provisional Regulations for the transport of foreign and native goods to the newly-opened marts in Manchuria differ from those prevailing in the region served by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and that the differences should be taken into consideration in dealing with the question of the levy of li-kin on the latter.
The Board concur in this view, and are further of opinion that the matter should be dealt with in accordance with the existing Rules which they can examine in regard to the carriage of goods by other means of transport than the railway, and these differ from the practice prevailing in the region of the newly-opened marts in Manchuria. Furthermore, the matter should be dealt with in accordance with existing Rules, and if there are points to be considered beyond the scope of these, they should be taken into account by the Inspector-General of Customs in his recommendations to this Department, whose decision will be made with the endeavour to place the question on a satisfactory footing.
The Board will therefore communicate further with your Excellency on this subject as soon as they receive from the Revenue Council the Regulations which the Inspector-General of Customs has been instructed to draw up.
I avail, &c. (Signed) PRINCE CH'ING.
3
I regret to state that in spite of frequent references on my part, both in writing and interviews, to the urgency of this question, the Imperial Maritime Customs at Shanghae are not yet prepared to issue these certificates.
Since the issue of these certificates is a Treaty right, I am at a loss to understand the delay which has occurred, and have informed Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. that any li-kin levied on duty-paid goods sent by rail to another Treaty port should from henceforth be paid only under formal protest, and that such payments will be reclaimed by His Majesty's Government on their behalf from the Imperial Chinese Government.
I trust, therefore, that the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghae may receive immediate instructions to issue these certificates in compliance with Treaty rules, in order to obviate claims for compensation from His Majesty's Government.
I avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.
Peking, June 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' note of the 26th ultimo, on the subject of the levy of li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, in which it is stated that in the view of the Revenue Council the conditions existing in the districts affected by the Provisional Regulations for the transport of foreign and native goods to the newly-opened marts in Manchuria differ from those prevailing in the region served by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and that the differences should be taken into consideration by the Inspector-General of Customs in making his recommendations for an adjustment of the present difficulties.
I would wish to mention to your Highness that it is very important to bear in mind that this question of the levy of li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway must be decided in strict accordance with Treaty provisions and with the established practice on other railways in China.
On the Northern Railways the Provisional Regulations inclosed in your Highness' note of the 19th November, 1907, secure the observance of Treaty provisions in respect of foreign goods and native produce which have paid import and coast trade duties respectively, and similar goods and produce borne by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway should be protected from li-kin levies by similar regulations.
As regards merchandise other than foreign goods and native produce, the duties on which are regulated by Treaty provisions, I have the honour to invite your Highness' attention to the stipulations regarding li-kin which are contained in Article 14 of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Loan Agreement. They are as follows:-
"As to the li-kin for goods or passengers which may be transported over the lines from, to, or through the different provinces, the Director-General will confer with the Government Bureau of Mines and Railways and the Board of Revenue, with a view to devising means to protect the traffic of the railway, and those who may use the railway for the transport of their goods from illegal impositions and other abuses.
If the arrangements for the levy of li-kin over other railway lines are found to be more advantageous than that of the railways mentioned in this Agreement, the same advantages shall be extended to and enjoyed by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and by those who made use of the same."
I avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.
Your Highness,
Peking, July 10, 1908.
IN your note of the 6th May your Highness informed me that the Revenue Council fully recognized the obligation of the Imperial Maritime Customs to issue exemption certificates for duty-paid imports carried from one Treaty port to another on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway.
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existing Rules which they can examine in regard to the carriage of goods by other means of transport than the railway, and these differ from the practice prevailing in the region of the newly-opened marts in Manchuria. Furthermore, the matter should be dealt with in accordance with existing Rules, and if there are points to be con- sidered beyond the scope of these, they should be taken into account by the Inspector- General of Customs in his recommendations to this Department, whose decision will be made with the endeavour to place the question on a satisfactory footing."
The Board will therefore communicate further with your Excellency on this subject as soon as they receive from the Revenue Council the Regulations which the Inspector-General of Customs has been instructed to draw up.
I avail, &c. (Signed)
PRINCE CH'ING.
3
I regret to state that in spite of frequent references on my part, both in writing and interviews, to the urgency of this question, the Imperial Maritime Customs at Shanghae are not yet prepared to issue these certificates.
Since the issue of these certificates is a Treaty right, I am at a loss to understand the delay which has occurred, and have informed Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. that any li-kin levied on duty-paid goods sent by rail to another Treaty port should from henceforth be paid only under formal protest, and that such payments will be reclaimed by His Majesty's Government on their behalf from the Imperial Chinese Government.
I trust, therefore, that the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghae may receive immediate instructions to issue these certificates in compliance with Treaty rules, in order to obviate claims for compensation from His Majesty's Government.
I avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.
Peking, June
1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' note of the 26th ultimo, on the subject of the levy of li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, in which it is stated that in the view of the Revenue Council the conditions existing in the districts affected by the Provisional Regulations for the transport of foreign and native goods to the newly-opened marts in Manchuria differ from those prevailing in the region served by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and that the differences should be taken into consideration by the Inspector-General of Customs in making his recommendations for an adjustment of the present difficulties.
I would wish to mention to your Highness that it is very important to bear in mind that this question of the levy of li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway must be decided in strict. accordance with Treaty provisions and with the established practice on other railways in China. On the Northern Railways the Provisional Regulations inclosed in your Highness' note of the 19th November, 1907, secure the observance of Treaty provisions in respect of foreign goods and native produce which have paid import and coast trade duties respectively, and similar goods and produce borne by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway should be protected from li-kin levies by similar regulations. As regards merchandize other than foreign goods and native produce, the duties on which are regulated by Treaty provisions, I have the honour to invite your Highness' attention to the stipulations regarding li-kin which are contained in Article 14 of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Loan Agreement. They are as follows:-
"As to the li-kin for goods or passengers which may be transported over the lines from, to, or through the different provinces, the Director-General will confer with the Government Bureau of Mines and Railways and the Board of Revenue, with a view to devising means to protect the traffic of the railway, and those who may use the railway for the transport of their goods from illegal impositions and other abuses.
"If the arrangements for the levy of li-kin over other railway lines is found to be more advantageous than that of the railways mentioned in this Agreement, the same advantages shall be extended to and enjoyed by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and by those who made use of the same."
"
I avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.
Your Highness,
Peking, July 10, 1908.
IN your note of the 6th May your Highness informed uue that the Revenue Council fully recognized the obligation of the Imperial Maritime Customs to issue exemption certificates for duty-paid imports carried from one Treaty port to another on the Shanghac-Nanking Railway.
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