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THE CREFOO CONVENTION, 1876

Additional Articles to the Agreement between Great Britain and China

Signed at Chefoo on the 13th September, 1876

Signed at London, 18th July, 1885

The Governments of Great Britain and of China, considering that the arrange ments proposed in Clauses 1 and 2 of Section III. of the Agreement between Great Britain and China, signed at Chefoo on the 18th September, 1876 (hereinafter referred to as the "Chefoo Agreement "), in relation to the area within which lekin ought not to be collected on foreign goods at the open ports, and to the definition of the Foreign Settlement area, require further consideration; also that the terms of Clause 3 of the same section are not sufficiently explicit to serve as an efficient regula- tion for the traffic in opium, and recognizing the desirability of placing restrictions on the consumption of opium, have agreed to the present Additional Article.

1.-As regards the arrangements above referred to and proposed in Clauses 1 and 2 of Section III. of the Chefoo Agreement, it is agreed that they shall be reserved for further consideration between the two Governments.

2.-In lieu of the arrangement respecting opium proposed in Clause 3 of Section II. of the Chefoo Agreement, it is agreed that foreign opium, when imported into China, shall be taken cognizance of by the Imperial Maritime Customs, and shall be deposited in bond, either in warehouses or receiving-hulks which have been approved of by the Customs, and that it shall not be removed thence until there shall have been paid to the Customs the Tariff duty of 30 taels per chest of 100 catties, and also a sum not exceeding 80 taels per like chest as lekin.

3. It is agreed that the aforesaid import and lekin duties having been paid, the owner shall be allowed to have the opium repacked in bond under the supervision of the Customs, and put into packages of such assorted sizes as he may select from such sizes as shall have been agreed upon by the Customs authorities and British Consul at the port of entry.

The Customs shall then, if required, issue gratuitously to the owner a transit cer- tificate for each such package, or one for any number of packages, at option of the owner. Such certificates shall free the opium to which it applies from the imposition of any further tax or duty whilst in transport in the interior, provided that the package has not been opened, and that the Customs seals, marks, and numbers on the packages have not been effaced or tampered with.

Such certificate shall have validity only in the hands of Chinese subjects, and shall not entitle foreigners to convey or accompany any opium in which they may be interested into the interior.

4.-It is agreed that the Regulations under which the said certificates are to be issued shall be the same for all the ports, and that the form shall be as follows:-

"Opium Transit Certificate.

"This is to certify that Tariff and lekin duties at the rate of taels per chest of 100 catties have been paid on the opium marked and numbered as under; and that, in conformity with the Additional Article signed at London the 18th July, 1885, and appended to the Agreement between Great Britain and China signed at Chefoo the 18th September, 1876, and approved by the Imperial Decree printed on the back thereof, the production of this certificate will exempt the opium to which it refers, wherever it may be found, from the imposition of any further tax or duty whatever, provided that the packages are unbroken, and the Customs seals, marks, and numbers have not been effaced or tampered with.

No.

"Mark,

X

"Port of entry,

"Date

00 packages

66

Signature of Commissioner of Customs."

5.-The Chinese Government undertakes that when the packages shall have been opened at the place of consumption, the opium shall not be subjected to any tax or