649639-1892-Circular-Despatch-re-Commercial-Convention-Spain — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND APRIL, 1892.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 158.

The following Circular Despatch is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 28th March, 1892.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.

281

CIRCULAR.

DOWNING STREET,

4th February, 1892.

SIR,With reference to my Circular despatch of the 6th of February, 1891, respecting the termination on 30th June next of the Commercial Convention of 26th April, 1886, between Great Britain and Spain, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of the Colony under your Government, a copy of a translation of a Spanish Royal Order, issued from the Spanish Treasury on 13th January, respecting Customs duties on British Goods between 1st February and 30th June next, together with a copy of a translation of Article XII., relating to certificates of origin of a new Tariff approved on 31st December last.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient

humble Servant,

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

Royal Order.

KNUTSFORD.

(Translation.)

CONSIDERING the inquiries which have been addressed to this Ministry with regard to the interpretation of Articles 1 and 6 of the Royal Decree of the 31st December last, us to the date on which the new Tariff is to come into force, and as to the duties which are to be charged on goods from countries whose Commercial Treaties with Spain terminate on the 30th June next;

And considering that England and the Netherlands continue to enjoy up to the 30th June next the benefits in general which are secured to them by their respective Treaties in addition to those contained in the Treaties concluded between Spain and Germany on the 12th July, 1883, and with France on the 6th February, 1882;

His Majesty the King, and in his name the Queen Regent, decrees:-

1. That merchandize which enters the Customs lines of Spain, cither by sea or land, until mid- night of the 31st of this month of January will enjoy the benefits of the Tariff now in force, inasmuch as the new Tariff does not come into force till the 1st February next.

2. In accordance with the above Article, the Custom-houses will reinain open until midnight in order to receive the manifests and way bills. On these documents will be entered carefully the hour at which they are presented, provided always that they conform with the Marine and Sanitary Regu- lations of the port of entry.

3. Merchandize of British or Dutch origin will continue to enjoy to the 30th June of the present year the benefits of the duties contained in the Tariffs, Letter (B), annexed to the Treaties of Com- merce and Navigation between Spain and Germany of the 12th July, 1883, and of France of the 6th February, 1882.

4. In order that the duties in those Tariffs (which were annexed to the Treaties for merchandize to which the said Tariffs refer) may be applied, it is necessary that a certificate of origin should be presented at the Custom-house, drawn up in the form laid down in Rule 12 of the new Tariff approved of by the Royal Order of the 31st December, 1891.

5. All British and Dutch goods not specified in the above Tariffs, Letter (B), annexed respectively to the French and German Treaties, will, up to the 30th July, 1892, pay duty in accordance with the second column of the new Tariff approved by the Royal Decree of the 31st December, 1891.

6. Goods of Finnish origin comprised in the Tariff, Letter (B), annexed to the Treaty of Com- merce and Navigation between Spain and Russia of the 2nd July, 1887, will, up to the 30th June of the present year, pay in accordance with the duties specified in the above Tariff, Letter (B), it being understood that, in order to enjoy this privilege, Finnish goods must be imported direct from Finland without transhipment on the voyage; no necessity of justifying their origin by means of a certificate being required.