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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26TH MARCH 1887.
297
to be, even with considerable modifications, of a nature that could not be sanctioned by the Government of this Colony. However as it was desirable to help the Chinese Government to collect their Opium Revenue if we could do so without injury to ourselves, Mr. RUSSELL submitted to the Commission certain proposals which he had long had under consideration. These proposals were accepted by the Chinese Government. Subsequent discussion led to some modifications, and the conditional arrangement arrived at is the one now laid on the table.
This Memorandum of Agreement was transmitted by the Officer Administering the Government to the Imperial Government, to the Viceroy of India, and to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, with a Confidential Report drawn up by Mr. RUSSELL.
By a Confidential Despatch dated 21st January last, the Secretary of State for the Colonies conveyed to the Officer Administering the Government the approval of Her Majesty's Govern- ment of the course taken in this matter, and sanctioned the introduction of the Draft Ordinance prepared by Mr. RUSSELL by which it is proposed to carry into effect the terms of the Memo- randum of Agreement, so soon as it was ascertained that the equivalent arrangements with the Government of Macao, referred to in condition 1 of that Memorandum, had been concluded. A telegram recently received from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking conveys the infor- mation that these equivalent arrangements with Macao have been concluded, and that from 1st April next all duties on goods exported and imported by junks from Hongkong and Macao- not those on Opium only as contemplated by the Additional Article-will be collected by the Inspector-General's Department. The Stations at the entrances to this Harbour and that of Macao will therefore in future be under a Commissioner of the Imperial Customs instead of the Hoppo and Lekin Board as formerly.
The Officer Administering the Government therefore lays on the table, to be read a first time the Draft Ordinance which will carry out the conditions mentioned in the Memorandum of Agreement, and which will, it is expected, protect and improve the Opium Excise Revenue of the Colony. It is practically the same measure as has been in force in the Straits Settlements for years past. and which has worked so well that Singapore alone obtains about $86,000, a month from the Opium Farmers. It is confidently anticipated moreover that when this arrange- ment has been carried out all grounds will be removed for the complaints that were so frequent some years ago of the vexatious proceedings of the Native Customs Officials at the Stations near Hongkong. The duties to be levied at these Stations will be according to a fixed Tariff instead of an uncertain and variable one, as they have hitherto been alleged to be, and it is provided that in case of any dispute the Governor of Hongkong can depute an Officer to make enquiry into the matter in conjunction with the Commissioner of the Imperial Customs.
MEMORANDUM of the basis of Agreement arrived at after discussion between Mr. JAMES
RUSSELL, Puisne Judge of Hongkong; Sir ROBERT HART, K.C.M.G., Inspector-General of Customs, and SHAO Tao Tai, 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, signed at Chefoo on the 13th 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:-
1. For the prohibition of the import and export of Opium in quantities less than one
chest.
2. For rendering illegal the possession of Raw Opium, its custody or control in
quantities less than one chest except by the Opium Farmer.
3. 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.
4. For the keeping by Importers, Exporters, and Godown Owners in such form as
the Governor may require, books shewing the movement of Opium.
5. 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.
6. For amendment of Harbour Regulations, as to the night clearances of junks,
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