Directory_and_Chronicle_1892 — Page 159

106

TREATY BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND CHINA

commerce, and they ma importa d ex ort the'r me chandise, enjoying all the rights and pr vileges enjoyed by the subjects of the most favoured nat on.

Art. XII.-Portuguese subjects shal! av mort and export duties on all mer- chandise according to the rates s ecified in the tariff of 1858, adopted for all the other bat ons; and in no instance shall higher duties be exacted from the n than those aid by the subjects of any other foreign nation.

Art. XIII.—P rtuguese subjects are permitted to hire any descri tion of boats they may require for the converance of cargo or passengers, and the price of said hire will be fixed by the contracting parties alone, without interference of the Chinese Government. No limit shall be put to the number of boats, neither will it be per- mitted to any one to establish a monopoly of such bouts or of the service of coolies employed in the carr age of merchandise.

Should contraband articles be on board any such boats, the guilty parties shall immediately be unished according to law.

1

Art. XIV.-Portuguese subjects residing in the open ports may take into their service Chinese subjects, and employ them in any lawful capacity in China, without restraint or hindrance from the Chinese Government; but shall not engage them fou foreign countries in contravention of the laws of China.

Art. XV.-The Chinese authorities are bound to grant the fullest |rotection to the persons and to the property of Portuguese subjects in China, whenever they may be exposed to insult or wrong. In case of robbery or incend ar sm, the local autho- rities will immediately take the necessary measures to recover the stolen i roj erty, to terminate the disorder, to seize the guilty, and punish them according to the law. Similar Irotection will be given by Portuguese authorities to Chinese subjects in the 1 ossession of Portugal.

Art. XVI.—Whenever a Portuguese subject intends to build or o en houses, shoj s or warehouses, churches, hospitals, or cemeteris, at the Treaty ports, or at other places, the purchase, rent, or lease of these roperties shall be made out accor- ing to the current terms of the place, with equity, without exaction on either side, without offending against the usages of the eo le, and after due notice given by the proprietors to the local authority. It is understood, however, tl at the shops or ware- houses above mentioned shall only be allowed at the ports open to trade, and not in any place in the interior.

1

•

Art. XVII.- Portuguese subjects conveying merchandise between open ports shall be required to take certificates from the Superintendent of the Customs-house, such as are 81 ecified in the regulations in force with refererce to other nationalities. But Portuguese subjects. who, without carr ing merchandise, would like to go to the interior of China, must have pass orts issued by their Consuls and counter- sigred by the local authorities. The earer of the pass ort must produce the same when demanded, and the pars; or not being irregular, he will be al owed to proceed and co o ›osition shall be offered, especially to his hiring persons or vessels for the caringe of his bagg ge or merchandise.

1

li he be without a inɛs ort, or if he commits an offence against the law, be hall be handed over to the nearest Consul of Forngul to be punished, but he must not be subjected to an oppressive measure. No passport need be applied for by persons gig on excursions from the ports open to trade to a distance not exceeding 100 li a: d for a period not exceeding five days.

The provisions of this article do not apply to crews of ships, for the due restraint of whom regulations will be drawn up by the Consul and the local authorities.

Art. XVIII.-In the event of a l'ortuguero merchant vessel being lundered by pirates or thi ves within Chinese waters, the Chinese authorities are to employ their utmost exerti ns to seize and punish the suid robbers and to recover the stolen goods, which, through the Consul, shall be restored to whom they belong.

Art. XIX.-If a Portuguese ves-o! be shi wr. cked on the coast of China, or be com ell d to take refug in any of :he ports of the Empire, the Chinese authorities, on receiving notice of the fact, shall provide the necesary protection, affording