CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12] — Page 448

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put up the Chrifto Treaty for

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The

Fruch Treaty og

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1838

which

refissure to article 16 of the

mistake for article XIV

водит

"no

oh a

privileged commercial

souirty shall henceforward to

established in Cluña of the

Save

shall apply to an organized coalition

having for it's ent

the exercise of a

monopoly of trade ...

13.

Flax 13.6

251.

136.

At this pont 17762 arrived - cartaining a til: jrom the Chang's I 'affaires. It does not advance.

matters at all: & the auswor

abar still holls good.

BY 1316.

suggested

"Official Report" 16 June.

Opium Trade (Taxation at Canton). Mr. REES asked whether the Colonial Office has received any protest from British merchants at Hong Kong against efforts which are being made by the pro-

Canton vincial authorities at foreign raw opium without regard to treaty provisions in this behalf!

τα tax

fur

UNDER-SECRETARY The

(Mr. McKinnon AFFAIRS FOREIGN Wood): The Secretary of State for the Colonies has received no direct protests from British merchants, but protests have been addressed by the Chamber of Corn- merce to the Foreign Office and to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking.

matter is receiving the attention of Majesty's Government.

6000. 2/10. A.&E.W.

Foreign Raw Opium (Canton Tax).

Mr. REES asked whether the Colonial Office has received any protest from British merchants at Hong Kong against efforts which are being made by the pro- vincial authorities at Canton to tax foreign raw opium without regard to treaty pro- visions in this behalf!

Sir EDWARD GREY: The Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce has referred the matter to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, who reports that regulations were issued by the Canton provincial authorities on 7th June enforcing a tax on He has informed the prepared opium.

Wai-wu-pu that he could not accept any regulation enforcing an additional duty on raw foreign opium in a treaty port. They have promised to call for a report from the Viceroy of Canton.

C 14.11

443

Telegram from Mr. Hewett, Hongkong, dated June 10th,

1910.

Canton authorities now enforce tax whereby dues

on prepared opium are collected from raw opium dealers

whose licenses are cancelled and new licenses can only

be obtained through private Chinese firm who have got

Chinese Government monopoly this forms breach of

treaties especially articles two three and five British

Chefoo Agreement 1885 and article 16 French Treaty 1858

raw opium trade entirely at standstill and very large

purchases made from Indian Government with understanding

that treaty rights would not be impaired will now re-

sult in enormous losses unless new monopoly withdrawn.

Consul General Canton declines to act stating tax not

differential Chargé d'Affaires hesitates take other

view than Consul's Chamber Commerce Hongkong strongly

protest against creation of monopoly contrary to treaty

and imposition new tax and beg you will after consider.

ation instruct Chargé d'Affaires insist on fulfilment

treaty obligations.

Hewett, Maurin