Directory_and_Chronicle_1864 — Page 336

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA.

IX

hundred and fifty tons and under, they shall be charged at the rate of one mace per ton.

Any vessel clearing from any of the open ports of China for any other of the open ports, or for Hongkong, shall be entitled, on application of the master, to a special certificate from the Customs, on exhibition of which she shall be exempted from all further payment of tonnage-dues in any open port of China, for a period of four mouths, to be reckoned from the date of her port-clearance.

Art. XXX.-The master of any British merchant-vessel may, within forty-eight hours after the arrival of his vessel, but not later, decide to depart without breaking bulk, in which case he will not be subject to pay tonnage-dues. But tonnage-dues shall be held due after the expiration of the said forty-eight hours. No other fees or charge upon entry or departure shall be levied.

Art. XXXI.-No tonnage-dues shall be payable on boats employed by British subjects in the conveyance of passengers, bagage, letters, articles of provision, or other articles not subject to duty, between any of the open ports. All cargo-boats, however, conveying merchandize subject to duty shall pay tonnage dues once in four months at the rate of one mace per register ton.

Art. XXXII.—The Consuls and Superintendents of Customs shall consult to- gether regarding the erection of beacons or lighthouses, and the distribution of buoys and lightships, as occasion may demand.

Art. XXXIII.—-Duties shall be paid to the bankers, authorized by the Chinese Government to receive the same in its behalf, either in sycee or in foreign money, according to the assay made at Canton on the thirteenth of July, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three.

Art. XXXIV.-Sets of standard weights and measures, prepared according to the standard issued to the Canton Custom-house by the Board of Revenue, shall be delivered by the Superintendent of Customs to the Consul at each port, to secure uniformity and prevent confusion.

Art. XXXV.-Any British merchant-vessel arriving at one of the open ports shall be at liberty to engage the services of a pilot to take her into port. In like manner, after she has discharged all lega, dues and duties, and is ready to take her departure, she shall be allowed to select a pilot, to conduct her out of port.

Art. XXXVI.-Whenever a British merchant-vessel shall arrive off one of the open ports, the Superintendent of Customs sha'i depute one or more Customs' officers to guard the ship. They shall either live in a boat of their own or stay on board the ship, as may best suit their convenience. Their food and expenses shall be sup- plied them from the Custom-house, and they shall not be entitled to any fees what- ever from the master or consignee. Should they violate this regulation, they shall be punished proportionately to the amount exacted.

Art. XXXVII.—Within twenty-four hours after arrival, the ship's papers, bills of lading, &c., shall be lodged in the hands of the Consul, who will within a further period of twenty-four hours report to the Superintendent of Customs the name of the ship, her registered tonnage, and the nature of her cargo. If, owing to neglect on the part of the master, the above rule is not complied with, within forty-eight hours after the ship's arrival, he shall be liable to a fine of fifty taels for every day's delay : the total amount of penalty, however, shall not exceed two hundred taels.

The master will be responsible for the correctness of the manifest, which shall contain a full and true account of the particulars of the cargo on board. For pre- senting a false manifest, he will subject himself to a fine of five hundred taels; but he will be allowed to correct, within twenty-four hours after delivery of it to the Cus- toms' officers, any mistake he may discover in his manifest, without incurring this pénalty.