Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 82

TIENTSIN TREATY, 1853

Art. XXVIII.—Whereas it was agreed in Article X. of the Treaty of Nanking that British imports, having paid the tariff duties, should be conveyed into the interior, free of all further charges, except a transit duty, the amount whereof was not to exceed a certain percentage on tariff value; and whereas, no accurate information having been furnished of the amount of such duty, British merchants have constantly complained that charges are suddenly and arbitrarily imposed by the provincial authorities as transit duties upon produce on its way to the foreign market, and on imports on their way into the interior, to the detriment of trade; it is agreed that within four months from the signing of this Treaty, at all ports now open to British trade, and within a similar period at all ports that may hereafter be opened, the authority appointed to superintend the collection of duties shall be obliged, upon application of the Consul, to declare the amount of duties leviable ou produce between the place of production and the port of shipment, upon imports between the Consular port in question and the inland markets named by the Consul; and that a notification thereof shall be published in English and Chinese for general information.

But it shall be at the option of any British subject desiring to convey produce purchased inland to a port, or to convey imports from a port to an inland market, to clear his goods of all transit duties, by payment of a single charge. The amount of this charge shall be leviable on exports at the first barrier they may have to pass, or, on imports, at the port at which they are landed; and on payment thereof a certificate shall be issued, which shall exempt the goods from all further inland charges whatsoever.

It is further agreed that the amount of the charge shall be calculated, as nearly as possible, at the rate of two and a half per cent. ad valorem, and that it shall be fixed for each article at the conference to be held at Shanghai for the revision of the tariff. It is distinctly understood that the payment of transit dues, by commutation or otherwise, shall in no way affect the tariff duties on imports or exports, which will continue to be levied separately and in full.

Art. XXIX.-British merchant vessels, of more than one hundred and fifty tons burden, shall be charged tonnage-dues at the rate of four mace per ton; if of one hundred and fifty tons and under, they shall be charged at the rate of one mace per ton.

Any vessel clearing from any of the open ports of China for any other of the open ports, or for Hongkong, shall be entitled, on application of the master, to a special certificate from the Customs, on exhibition of which she shall be exempted from all further payment of tonnage dues in any open ports of China, for a period of four months, to be reckoned from the port-clearance.

Art. XXX. The master of any British merchant vessel may, within forty-eight hours after the arrival of his vessel, but not later, decide to depart without breaking bulk, in which case be will not be subject to pay tonnage-dues. But tonnage-dues shall be held due after the expiration of the said forty-eight hours. No other fees or charges upon entry or departure shall be levied.

Art. XXXI.-No tonnage-dues shall be payable on boats employed by British subjects in the conveyance of passengers, baggage, letters, articles of provision, or other articles not subject to duty, between any of the open ports. All cargo-boats, however, conveying merchandise subject to duty shall pay tonnage-dues once in six months, at the rate of four mace per register ton.

Art. XXXII.-The Consuls and Superintendents of Customs shall consult together regarding the erection of beacons or lighthouses and the distribution of buoys and lightships, as occasion may demand.

Art. XXXIII.-Duties shall be paid to the bankers authorised by the Chinese Government to receive the same in its behalf, either in sycee or in foreign money, according to the assay made at Canton on the thirteenth of July, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three.

Art. XXXIV.—Sets of standard weights and measures, prepared according to the standard issuel to the Canton Custom-house by the Board of Revenue, shall be delivered by the Superintendent of Customs to the Consul at each port to secure uniformity and prevent confusion.

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