CO129-517-2 Correspondence on proposed Chinese and Hong Kong agreements over Customs 13-11-1929 - 28-12-1929 — Page 50

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X.

ARTICLE V.

Steam or motor vessels duly registered by the Chinese Maritime Customs under the Inland Waters Steam Navigation Regulations may trade between Hong Kong and non- open ports subject to the following conditions:--

THE CHINESE ^

MARITIME

(a) The term "non-open post shall mean any non-treaty port upon the inland waterways of China and it shall include such non-treaty ports upon the sea coast of China as may from time to time be agreed upon between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Authorities

(b) On each occasion of arrival at and departure from Hong Kong the master shall deposit his manifest in duplicate with the proper Hong Kong authorities who shall send one copy to the Commissioner of Customs.

(c) Upon application by the master the Chinese Maritime Customs shall grant a special pass for each trip, which special pass shall specify the destination of the vessel, the places at which it is proposed to call, and the Customs stations to be called at on both the outward and the return voyages. The vessel must proceed direct to the first Customs station specified on the pass.

(d) All vessels proceeding to non-open ports under this Article must call at the Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office agreed upon by the Government of Hong Kong where cargo and baggage will be examined and hatches may be sealed after loading. Dues may be paid at the master's option at such sub-office or at the station specified on the pass.

(e) On the return voyage from such ports vessels with their passengers and cargo must proceed to the Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office agreed upon by the Hong Kong Government for examination and payment of the necessary dues, if any, to such sub-office.

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(f) If vessel plying between Hong Kong and non-open ports under this article fails to report at the specified Chinese Maritime Customs sub-office on either the outward or the inward voyage the master shall upon summary conviction at the prosecution of the Hong Kong Government be liable to a fine not ex- ceeding ten thousand dollars.

(9) Steam and motor vessels plying between Hong Kong and non-open ports under this Article shall receive and convey free of charge matter issued by or ad- dressed to Chinese Post Offices. Other mail matter shall not be conveyed by them. British vessels accorded under this Agreement the privilege of plying in inland waters in the Canton Delta shall undertake to accept and carry all mails either originating at Chinese Post Offices or consigned to them, and to carry no other mails to or from places in such waters.

A schedule of certain places in the Liang Kwang Provinces recognised by the Chin- ese Authorities at the time of the conclusion of this agreement as non-open ports is an- nexed to this agreement.

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receive as favourable treatment in all respects as is in fact enjoyed by Chinese vessels engaged in the same trade, whether registered under this Article or not, and the passengers and goods carried by such Chinese vessels respectively, and in particular no taxes, duties, dues or charges shall be levied on such vessels so registered, or on the passengers or goods carried by such vessels, other or greater than those levied on Chinese vessels engaged in the said trade, or on the passengers or goods carried by such Chinese vessels respectively. 57

ARTICLE VI.

Junks and lighters registered with the Chinese Maritime Customs may be towed between Hong Kong and non-open ports as defined in Article V by steam or motor vessels registered with the Chinese Maritime Customs under Article V; and in that case such junks, lighters, and other vessels will be treated as junks under sail and will be required to conform to the rules governing junk traffic, and the procedure prescribed in Article V of this Agreement.

All junks and lighters registered in accordance with this Article and engaged in the trade contemplated by this Article, and the goods carried by such vessels, shall receive as favourable treatment in all respects as is in fact enjoyed by Chinese vessels engaged in the same trade, whether registered under this Article or not, and the goods carried by such Chinese vessels respectively, and in particular no taxes, duties, dues or charges shall be levied on such vessels so registered, or on the goods carried by such vessels, other or greater than those levied on Chinese vessels engaged in the said trade, or on the goods carried by such Chinese vessels respectively.

ARTICLE VII.

Lighters towed by steam or motor vessels to treaty ports in China may have their hatches sealed by the Chinese Maritime Customs prior to departure and such vessels may then

except under licence. Every licensee shall keep books in a prescrived form showing the quantity received under permit, and the amount used. All such books shall be open to inspection by the Hong Kong Government.

ARTICLE IV.

During the period of this Agreement the Hong Kong Government will allow the Chinese Maritime Customs to maintain for Customs purposes a head office and a sub-office or sub-offices at such place or places, and subject to such conditions, as may be approved by the Hong Kong Government, and will allow Chinese Maritime Customs revenue ves- sels to patrol in the waters of the Colony in accordance with arrangements mutually agreed upon between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Maritime Customs.

ARTICLE V.

Steam or motor vessels of any description, provided that they are registered for the purpose with the Chinese Maritime Customs, may trade between Hong Kong and non-open ports and vice versa, whether via a treaty port or not, subject to the following condi- tions:-

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