728476-1842-30-Jun-1842 — Page 2

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THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE

P GRINA FRIEND

AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JUNE, 30rz. 1842.

in that there Bugar

mounts to more than in 3d per Ib!11 The Raw Su- of China which would importable inte England at about 3d per duty of 6d per Ib! As it is will be an early (from_the_avowed and other foreign and not

Marc

the

and

Now that

A Correspondent asks us whether the Opium Mania prevails in Japan. We do not think, it does. In the digest of the best Dutch authorities (which has been re- ently published by Murray of London) we not remember that any mention is made the addiction of the Japanese the smoking of Opium.

no of crude

IN 1890

It cannot be doubted by any, the least acquainted with our domestic and colonial policy, that Teas, if shipped from a British Possession, would be entitled to be admit- ted at a lower duty, than from a Foreign Port. The commercialists of Singapore, have not urged the matter on the attention of the Home Government, thinking from their connexion with the East India Com pany that it was perhaps its affair. Hap-

have received a Copy pily we are under no Leadenhall influ-

Tariff we see no reason ence and with us, in good time, the point will, we are sure, be successfully mooted. It to alter our opinion as expressed in our

last number But little advantage was in conformity with an acknowledged

accrue to the China Trade from the alter- right, that the late Plenipotentiary pub. licly notified last June, his intention to ations propounded by Sir Robert Peel. move her Majesty's Government to make quite in conformity with the acknow an abatement of one penny per lb on Car-ledged principles of our Colonial Policy to goes of Tea Shipped from Hongkong. Had retain the system of differential duties in

fyour of the produce of the the Merchants generally responded to

Hence we were not surprised to find the Captain Elliott's appeal, it is not unlikely scale of duties imposed were in most cases Teas from hence would now by Peels new Tariff have been admissible at a reduced only one half the amount levied on similar duty of at least two pence per lb. This is produce imported from foreign countries. important, but as a principle we abhor pro- With the ignorant bolstering system, which

has so long obtained we could hardly ex tective and discriminating duties, and we hold that the surest guarantees of our fu- pect a closer approximation to the true ture greatness will be the maintenance of principles of political economy. The pro- our Free Port. Time and the force of circorn law aristocracy and the West India in terest-backed by the advocates of protec cumstances will do the rest-e'en more than the most sanguine now ventures to antici-ion to nature industry (9) or for

strong to permit Robe pate.

do more than he has mate treaty with Brad will settle the Su- gar duties the clamorous wants of the People the Corn question. Sir Robert knows this, but is silent. His silence is eloquent.

Ws often denounce the Fiscal System of the Chinese. We much question whether on the whole, it is not better than our own; seeing that it affords not merely an encouragement but a large bounty to the Importers of food, whilst we prohibit its introduction unless at a famine price. We pro hibit Foreign Sheep, Oxen, Swins Fish and meat; whilst we permit to be brought in Druty free Tur tle, Turbot and Lobsters!!! This is the equal jun. tice which is the characteristic of our class legis- lation. By comparison, the enactments of the Chinese are truly paternal,

As our merchants complain, and with justice, of the very heavy, and lately augmented imposts, levied by the Chinese on British Imports; we have taken the trouble to refer per contra to the amount of duties levied on Chinese Experts

that the Present Duties in England on the follow ing China Products, (at the Current Cost Prices) will amount to, on

to 160 per Lent.

PROPOSED NEW DUTIES

Ginger Sago Clover Nutmeg, Wild P

FOREIGN

Cwi

Cat

4d

British

CWL

1/d Cwt 13,6d

ing to Mr. Matheson, the

Hon Merc

xactions,

Ito one thel and a half on each Rav Cotton. We are told now,

preser

price of this Staple

izmented duty makes this

fully twenty

the Canton and Macao

see that Teas are procurable, lower at Macao than Canton. Some qualifies are 20 per cent lower. If this has already en- sued at Macao where there exists Chinese

tlement

surveillance,

at the Bri- ong: It rests en-

with our merchants, whether the o-

dious Hong monopoly shall continue or not. We are glad to know that contracts can be made in Macao and Canton, to deliver here Teas, Carsia and other China pro- ducts at much lower rates than the same parties would consent to take, if as hereto fore, the goods were deliverable at Canton or Macao,

In our second number we said “our readers are ware a thorough revision of Customs Duties gland is imminent, and we doubt not ere this 31st) Sir Robert Peel has exhibited him- Reformer not only of our Criminal but Your Fiscal Code which hitherto has been

a disgrace to the civilization we so often and so proudly evoke We are

the full verification of our progn evident by a reference to the

oiced at as will be

commer-

meliorations of Sir Robert Peel which we

in our last. Whilst we think the mea- fect, in so far, as there is no diminution foreign grown Sugar and there being ation in the enormous Imp evied on our aude Tea. Yet bringing forward Minaterial project, Sir Robert will have for himself perishable honour as a Com- mercial Reformer, Would that he were not so bound and tied by the chains of aristocracy, as not to be able to accomplish a full measure justice

for our poorer brethren, the distressed labouring

tion of Great Britain,

think from his high intelligence he is dispos

we may add sooner or later must do it.

Alum from

120

Camphor

20

30

齄

Cassia

75

120 ม

"

China Root

200

300

n

China Ware

20

50

Cubebr

100

150

Ginger

50-

70

Glass beads

60

100

Hartall -

20

80

*

Lead, white

Silk Goods

30

Sugar

Tea

275. 50

60 300

250

averaging 175

Viciously bad as we acknowledge

mode of assessing Duties to be, it has

proved whether it be more opposed

principles of Political and Social Economy

our own.

The larger our ability to take Chma, the larger will be

to buy