Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 447

HUANGPU CONSERVANCY CONVENTION

271

In case of Chinese property, the Customs will proceed to estimate and settle the price, and will carry out the decision under analogous conditions.

Riparian landowners, Chinese as well as foreigners, will have the right of pre-emption in the case of all accretions of land in front of their properties by the deposits effected in improving the river channel. The price at which such lands may be acquired will be fixed by a Commission constituted similarly to that described in the preceding paragraph, or according to the case, by the Customs authorities.

Art. IX.-The Chinese Government takes upon itself the whole of the expense of the river improvement, without levying any tax or contribution either upon riparian property or upon trade or navigation.

Art. X.-China specifies, and gives as guarantee for the total expense of the river improvement works, the whole of the duty on opium of Szechuen and of Soochoufu in Kiangsu. In conformity with the provisions of the Protocol of 1901, she will devote annually to these works, and for twenty years, the sum of 460,000 Haikuan taels.

If during the course of any year after commencement of the works, the purchase of material or machines, etc., should necessitate exceptional expenditure, China, in order to meet it, may raise a loan by means of bonds on the revenue derived from the above-mentioned opium duty.

For the amortisation and the service of this loan as well as for expenses of all kinds connected with the execution of the works or with the maintenance of the works already completed, China will furnish annually a minimum of 460,000 Haikuan

teals.

The provincial authorities concerned will remit this sum by equal monthly payments into the hands of the Taotai and Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai,

Should the revenues indicated become insufficient, the Chinese Government must provide the sum specified from other sources.

Art. XI.-If the works are not prosecuted with diligence, care, and economy the Consular Body, acting upon a majority of votes, may notify the Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs of the fact and request them to iustruct the engineer to take the necessary remedial measures. Should the execution of the work continue to be unsatisfactory, the ConsularBody, in the same way, may recommend the dismissal of the engineer as well as the election and appointment of another in the manner set forth in Article II.

In case the Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai should not act upon these representations, the Consular Body may lay the matter before the representatives of the Powers interested.

Art. XII.—When the present articles have been discussed, agreed upon and signed, the regulations contained in Paragraph B. of Article XI, and in Annex 17 of the Protocol of 1901, shall be suspended, but, if China should fail to furnish annually sufficient funds, in such manner that the execution of the works should be thereby impeded, or, should she omit to conform to any other essential stipulation of the present arrangement, the original provisions of the Protocol of 1901 and of Annex 17 thereto, will immediately come again into force.

Peking, 27th September, 1905.

A. VON MUMM

A. VON ROSTHORN E. DE GAIFFIER MANUEL DE CARCER W. W. ROCKHILL G. DUBAIL ERNEST SATOW

C. BAROLI

Y. UCHIDA

A. VON CITTERS G. GOZAKOW

(Chinese date).

Signature of

of)

Prince Ching.

Seal of the

Waiwupu.