THE OPIUM CONVENTION
Memorandum of the basis of Agreement arrived at after discussion between Mr. James Russell, Puisne Judge of Hongkong; Sir Robert Hart, x.C.M.G., Iuspector- General of Customs, and Shao Taotai, Joint Commissioners for China; and Mr. Byron Brenan, Her Majesty's Consul at Tientsin, in pursuance of Article 7, Section III. of the Agreement between Great Britain and China, sigued at Chefoo on the 15th September, 1876, and of Section 9 of the. Additional Article to the said Agreement, signed at London on the 18th July, 1885.
Mr. Russell undertakes that the Government of Hongkong shall submit to the Legislative Council an Ordinance for the regulation of the trade of the Colony in Raw Opium subject to conditions hereinafter set forth and providing :-
a. For the prohibition to the import and export of Opium in quantities less than 1 chest. † b. For rendering illegal the possession of Raw Opium, its custody or control in quan-
tities less than one chest, except by the Opium Farmer.
c.—That all Opium arriving in the Colony be reported to the Harbour Master, and that no Opium shall be transhipped, landed, stored or moved from one store to another, or re- exported without a permit from the Harbour Master, and notice to the Opium Farmer. d. For the keeping by Importers, Exporters, and Godown Owners, in such form as
the Governor may require, books shewing the movements of Opium. e.—For taking stock of quantities in the stores, and search for deficiencies by the
Opium Farmer, and for furnishing to the Harbour Master returns of stocks. f.--For amendment of Harbour Regulations, as to the night clearances of junks.
The conditions on which it is agreed to submit the Ordinance are — a.—That China arranges with Macao for the adoption of equivalent measures. b. That the Hongkong Government shall be entitled to repeal the Ordinance if it be found to be injurious to the Revenue or to the legitimate trade of the Colony. c.—That an Office under the Foreign Inspectorate shall be established on Chinese Territory at a convenient spot on the Kowloon side for sale of Chinese Opium Duty Certificates, which shall be freely sold to all comers, and for such quantities of Opium as they may require.
d. That Opium accompanied by such certificates, at the rate of not more than Tls. 110 per picul, shall be free from all further imposts of every sort, and have all the benefits stipulated for by the Additional Article on behalf of Opium on which duty has been paid at one of the ports of China, and that it may be made up in sealed parcels at the option of the purchaser.
e. That junks trading between Chinese ports and Hongkong and their cargoes shall not be subject to any dues or duties in excess of those leviable on junks and their cargoes trading between Chinese ports and Macao, and that no dues whatsoever shall be demanded from junks coming to Hongkong from ports in China, or pro- ceeding from Hongkong to ports in China, over and above the dues paid or payable at the ports of clearance or destination.
f.-That the Officer of the Foreign Inspectorate, who will be responsible for the management of the Kowloon Office, shall investigate and settle any complaints made by the junks trading with Hongkong against the Native Customs Revenue Stations or Cruisers in the neighbourhood, and that the Governor of Hongkong, if he deems it advisable, shall be entitled to send a Hongkong Officer to be present at and assist in the investigation and decision. If, however, they do not agree a reference may be made to the Authorities at Peking for joint decision.
Sir Robert Hart undertakes on behalf of himself and Shao Taotai (who was com- pelled by unavoidable circumstances to leave before the sittings of the Commission were terminated) that the Chinese Government shall agree to the above conditions.
The undersigned are of opinion that if these arrangements are fully carried out, a fairly satisfactory solution of the questions connected with the so-called "Hong- kong Blockade" will have been arrived at.
Signed in triplicate at Hongkong, this 11th day of September, 1886.
See Ordinance 22 of 1987. † A modification allowing export in smaller quantities than one chest was subsequently agreed to.
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