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OPIUM AGREEMENT
VII. On confirmation of this Agreement and beginning with the collection of the new rate of consolidated import duty, China will at once cause to be withdrawn all restrictions placed by the Provincial authorities on the whole-ale trade in Indian opium, such as those recently imposed at Canton and elsewhere, and also all taxation on the wholesale trade other than the consolidated import duty, and no such restrictions or taxation shall be again imposed so b ng as the Additional Article to the Chefoo Agreement remains as at present in force.
It is also understood that Indian raw opium having paid the consolidated import duty shall be exempt from any further taxation whatsoever in the port of import.
Should the conditions contained in the above two clauses not be duly observed, His Majesty's Government shall be at liberty to suspend or terminate this Agreement at any time.
The foregoing stipulations shall not Cerogate in any manner from the force of the laws already published or hereafter to be published by the Imperial Chinese Government to suppress the smoking of opium and to regulate the retail trade in the drug in general.
VIII. With a view to assisting China in the suppression of opium His Majesty's Government undertake that from the year 1911 the Government of India will issue an export permit with a consecutive number for each chest of Indian opium declared for shipment to or for consumption in China.
During the year 1911 the number of permits so issued shall not exceed 30,600 and shall be progressively reduced annually by 5,100 during the remaining six years ending 1917.
A copy of each permit so issued shall, before shipment of opium declared for shipment to or consumption in China, be handed to the Chinese official for trans- mission to his Government, or to the Customs authorities in China.
His Majesty's Government undertake that each chest of opium for which such permit has been granted shall be sealed by an official deputed by the Indian Government in the presence of the Chinese official if so requested.
The Chinese Government undertake that chests of opium so sealed and accompanied by such permits may be imported into any Treaty Port of China without let or hindrance if such seals remain unbroken.
IX. Should it appear on subsequent experience desirable at any time during the unexpired portion of seven years to modify this Agreement or any part thereof, it may be revised by mutual consent of the two High Contracting Parties.
X-This Agreement shall come into force on the date of signature.
In witness whereof the undersigned duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments have signed the same and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done at Peking in quadruplicate (four in English and four in Chinese) this eighth day of May one thousand nine hundred and eleven, being the tenth day of the fourth month of the third year of Hsuan T'ung.
J. N. JORDAN,
L.S.
TSOU CHIA-LAI,
L.S.
ANNEX.
On the date of the signature of the Agreement a list shall be taken by the Commissioners of Customs acting in concert with the Colonial and Consular officials of all uncertified Indian opium in bond at the Treaty Ports and of all uncertified opiom in stock in Hongkong which is bona fide intended for the Chinese market, and all such opium shall be marked with labels and on payment of Tls. 110 con- solidated import duty shall be entitled to the same Treaty rights and privileges in China as certificated opium.
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