Directory_and_Chronicle_1875 — Page 586

CHINESE CUSTOMS' TARIFF.-RULES.

143

by the Customs satisfactory, to return, within six months from the date of clearance to the collector at the port of shipment, the certificate issued by him, with an acknowledgment thereon of the receipt of the cash at the port of destination by the collector at that port, who shall thereto affix his seal; or, failing the production of the certificate, to forfeit a sum equal in value to the cash shipped. Cash will pay no duty inwards or outwards; but a freight or part freight of cash, though no other cargo be on board, will render the vessel carrying it liable to pay tonnage dues.

III. The export of rice and all other grain whatsoever, native or foreign, no matter where grown or whence imported, to any foreign port, is prohibited; but these commodities may be carried by British merchants from one of the open ports of China to another, under the same conditions in respect of security as cash, on payment at the port of shipment of the duty specified in the Tariff.

No import duty will be leviable on rice or grain; but a freight or part freight of rice or grain, though no other cargo be on board, will render the vessel importing it liable to tonnage dues.

IV.-Pulse. The export of pulse and beancake from Tung-chau and Newchwang, under the British flag, is prohibited. From any other of the ports they may be shipped, on payment of the tariff duty, either to other ports of China, or the foreign countries. V. Saltpetre, sulphur, brimstone, and spelter, being munitions of war, shall not be imported by British subjects, save at the requisition of the Chinese Government, or for sale to Chinese duly authorized to purchase them. No permit to land them will be issued until the Customs have proof that the necessary authority has been given to the purchaser. It shall not be lawful for British subjects to carry these commodities up the Yang-tsze-kiang, or into any port other than those open to the interior on behalf of Chinese. They must be sold at the ports only, and, except at the ports, they will be regarded as Chinese property.

Infractions of the conditions, as above set forth, under which trade in opium, cash, grain, pulse, saltpetre, brimstone, sulphur, and spelter may be henceforward carried on, will be punishable by confiscation of all the goods concerned.

RULE 6.-Liability of Vessels entering Port.-To the prevention of misunderstanding, it is agreed that the term of twenty-four hours, within which British vessels must be reported to the Consul under Article XXXVII. of the Treaty of Tientsin, shall be understood to commence from the time a British vessel comes within the limits of the port; as also the term of forty-eight hours allowed her by Article XXX. of the same Treaty to remain in port without payment of tonnage dues.

The limits of the ports shall be defined by the Customs, with all consideration for the convenience of trade, compatible with due protection of the revenue; also the limits of the anchorages within which landing and discharging is permitted by the Customs; and the same shall be notified to the Consul for public information.

RULE 7.-Transit Dues.-It is agreed that Article XXXVIII. of the Treaty of Tientsin shall be interpreted to declare the amounts of transit-dues legally leviable upon merchandise imported or exported by British subjects, to be one-half of the tariff duties, except in the case of the duty-free goods liable to a transit-duty of 24 per cent. ad valorem, as provided in Article II. of these Rules. Merchandise shall be cleared of its transit dues under the following conditions .—

In the case of Imports.-Notice being given at the port of entry, from which the Imports are to be forwarded inland, of the nature and quantity of the goods, the ship from which they have been landed, and the place inland to which they are bound, with all other necessary particulars, the Collector of Customs, will on due inspection made, and on receipt of the transit-duty due, issue a transit-duty certificate. This must be produced at every barrier station, viséd. No further duty will be leviable upon imports so certificated, no matter how distant the place of their destination.

In the case of Exports.-Produce purchased by a British subject in the interior will be inspected, and taken account of, at the first barrier it passes on its way to the port of shipment. A memorandum showing the amount of the produce and the port at which it is to be shipped, will be deposited there by the person in charge of the produce; he will then receive a certificate, which must be exhibited and viséd at every barrier, on