Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 114

THE BRITISH COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH CHINA

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Section 16.-When the abolition of lekin and other forms of internal taxation on goods as provided for in this Article has been decided upon and sanctioned, an Imperial Edict shall be published in due form on yellow paper and circulated, setting forth the abolition of all lekin taxation, lekin barriers and all descriptions of internal taxation on goods, except as provided for in this Article.

The Edict shall state that the Provincial High Officials are responsible that any official disregarding the letter or spirit of its injunction shall be severely punished and removed from his post.

Art. IX.-The Chinese Government, recognising that it is advantageous for the country to develop its mineral resources, and that it is desirable to attract foreign as well as Chinese capital to embark in mining enterprises, agree within one year from the signing of this Treaty to initiate and conclude the revision of the existing Mining Regulations. China will, with all expedition and earnestness, go into the whole question of Mining Rules and, selecting from the rules of Great Britain, India, and other countries, regulations which seem applicable to the condition of China, she will recast her present Mining Rules in such a way as while promoting the interests of Chinese subjects and not injuring in any way the sovereign rights of China, shall offer no impediment to the attraction of foreign capital or place foreign capitalists at a greater disadvantage than they would be under generally accepted foreign regulations. Any mining concession granted after the publication of these new Rules shall be subject to their provisions.

Art. X.-Whereas in the year 1898 the Inland Waters of China were opened to all such steam vessels, native or foreign, as might be especially registered for that trade at the Treaty Ports, and whereas the Regulations dated 28th July, 1898, and Supple- mentary Rules dated September, 1898, have been found in some respects inconvenient in working, it is now mutually agreed to amend them and to annex such new Rules to this Treaty. These Rules shall remain in force until altered by mutual consent.

It is further agreed that Kongmoon shall be opened as a Treaty Port, and that, in addition to the places named in the special Article of the Burmah Convention of 4th February, 1897, British steamers shall be allowed to land or ship cargo and passengers, under the same regulations as apply to the "Ports of Call" on the Yangtze River, at the following "Ports of Call”: Pak Tau Hau (Pai-t'u k'ou), Lo Ting Hau (Lo-ting k'ou), and Do Sing (Tou-ch'êng); and to land or discharge passengers at the following ten passenger landing stages on the West River :-Yung Ki (Jung-chi), Mah Ning (Ma- ning), Kau Kong (Chiu-chiang), Kulow (Ku-lao), Wing On (Yung-an), How Lik (Hou- li), Luk Pu (Lu-pu), Yuet Sing (Yüeh-ch'eng), Luk To (Lu-tu) and Fung Chuen (Fêng- ch*nan).

Art. XI.-His Britannic Majesty's Government agree to the prohibition of the general importation of morphia into China, on condition, however, that the Chinese Government will allow of its importation, on payment of the Tariff import duty and under special permit, by duly qualified British medical practitioners and for the use of hospitals, or by British chemists and druggists who shall only be permitted to sell it in small quantities and on receipt of a requisition signed by a duly qualified foreign medical practitioner.

The special permits above referred to will be granted to an intending importer on his signing a bond before a British Consul guaranteeing the fulfilment of these conditions. Should an importer be found guilty before a British Consul of a breach of his bond, he will not be entitled to take out another permit. Any British subject importing morphia without a permit shall be liable to have such_morphia confiscated. This Article will come into operation on all other Treaty Powers agreeing to its conditions, but any morphia actually shipped before that date will not be affected by this prohibition.

The Chinese Government on their side undertake to adopt measures at once, to prevent the manufacture of morphia in China.

Art. XII.-China having expressed a strong desire to reform her judicial system and to bring it into accord with that of Western nations, Great Britain agrees to give every assistance to such reform, and she will also be prepared to relinquish her extra-territorial rights when she is satisfied that the state of the Chinese laws, the arrangement for their administration and other considerations warrant her in so doing. Art. XIII.-The missionary question in China being, in the opinion of the Chinese Government, one requring careful consideration, so that, if possible, troubles such as have occurred in the past may be averted in the future, Great Britain agrees to join in a Commission to investigate this question, and, if possible, to devise means for securing permanent peace between converts and non-converts, should such a Commnission be formed by China and the Treaty Powers interested.