Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 203

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Appendix A.

HONGKONG BLOCKADE QUESTION-PROPOSED BASIS OF SETTLEMENT.

BY THE LATE SIR BROOKE ROBERTSON, K.C.M.G., C.B.

1. With regard to the collection of duties and war-tax on vessels entering and clearing from Hongkong, it is proposed that the Viceroy of the Two Kwang should, in conjunc- tion with the Superintendent of Customs, Canton, appoint a fitting person as his deputy to generally superintend this matter. It is further proposed that a Customs Station shall be established as near as possible to the boundaries of the British territory some- where in the neighbourhood of Kau-lung, to make the levies and to issue clearances and receipts.

2. That the Viceroy of the Two Kwang shall in conjunction with the Superintendent of Customs, Canton, appoint an Englishman as an Officer to assist at the new Station.

The collection of duties and war-tax to be under the joint surveillance of the Chinese wei-yuan and Foreign Assistant, under the direction of the former,

3. After the establishment of the new Station, all junks clearing from Hongkong with cargo shall hand in manifests to and pay duty at the new Station, and shall receive clearances; the junk shall then be examined at Kap-shui Mun, Fat-tau Chau, or Chang Chau, as the case may be, to see that the cargo corresponds with the manifest.

Junks proceeding to Hongkong shall also stop at the three Stations above mentioned to have their Goods examined and to be given clearances, and shall then proceed to the new duty Station to pay such duties as may be due.

4. That all Revenue Cruisers of every description, whether steamers or sailing junks, are to be entirely under the jurisdiction of the new duty Station. These cruisers shall be supplied with a special flag, and their crews shall be dressed in a special uniform. Any junk they capture must be forwarded to the new duty Station to be examined by the Deputy and Foreign Assistant, who will enquire whether she is guilty of smuggling or

not:

5. That if any Chinese residing in the Colony is suspected of smuggling, a report of the circumstances shall be made to the Viceroy, who will communicate it to the Hong- kong Government.

6. If after a seizure has been effected by the new Station, a complaint is lodged with the Hongkong Authorities, it shall be competent for the Colonial Government to appoint an Officer to proceed to the Station to make enquiries, and in conjunction with the new duty Station, to summon witnesses, jointly investigate the matter, and settle it on a fair basis. If the British Official cannot agree with the Officers of the new Station, and therefore the case cannot be settled, each must report the matter to the Hongkong Government and the Viceroy respectively.

7. That the Tariff of dues and duties leviable on Chinese junks shall be published for general information, as also the penalties to be inflicted in case of any breach of Customs Regulations.