Directory_and_Chronicle_1871 — Page 468

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CHINESE CUSTOMS' TARIFF,-RULES.

his way to the port of shipment. On the arrival of the produce at the barrier nearest the port, notice must be given to the Customs at the port, and the transit-dues due thereon being paid, it will be passed. On exportation the produce will pay the tariff- duty.

Any attempt to pass goods inwards or outwards, otherwise than in compliance with the rule here laid down, will render them liable to confiscation.

Unauthorised sale, in transitu, of goods that have been entered as above for a port, will render them liable to confiscation. Any attempt to pass goods in excess of the quantity specified in the certificate will render all the goods of the same denomination, named in the certificate, liable to confiscation. Permission to export produce, which cannot be proved to have paid its transit-dues, will be refused by the Customs until the transit-dues shall have been paid. The above being the arrangement agreed to regard- ing the transit-dues, which will thus be levied once and for all, the notification required under Article XXVIII. of the Treaty of Tientsin, for the information of British and Chinese subjects, is hereby dispensed with.

RULE 8.-Foreign Trade under Passport. It is agreed that Article IX. of the Treaty of Tientsin shall not be interpreted as authorising British subjects to enter the capital city of Peking for the purpose of trade.

RULE 9.-Abolition of the Meltage Fee.-It is agreed that the percentage of one tael two mace, hitherto charged in excess of duty payments to defray the expenses of melting by the Chinese Government, shall be no longer levied on British subjects.

RULE 16.-Collection of Duties under one System at all Ports.—It being by Treaty at the option of the Chinese Government to adopt what means appear to it best suited to protect its revenue accruing on British trade, it is agreed that one uniform system

shall be enforced at every port.

The high officer appointed by the Chinese Government to superintend foreign trade, will accordingly, from time to time, either himself visit, or will send a deputy to visit the different ports. The said high officer will be at liberty, of his own choice, and independently of the suggestion or nomination of any British authority, to select British subjects he may see fit to aid him in the administration of the Customs' revenue, in the prevention of smuggling, in the definition of port boundaries, or in discharging the like, the maintenance of which shall be provided for out of the tonnage dues.

any

The Chinese Government will adopt what measures it shall find requisite to prevent smuggling upon the Yang-tsze-kiang, when that river shall be opened to trade. Done at Shanghai, in the province of Kiang-su, this eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, being the third day of the tenth moon of the year of the reign of Hien Fung.

(L.S.)

Seal of Chinese Plenipotentiaries.

ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.

Signature of Five Chinese Plenipotentiaries.

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