84
rms and munitions
THI HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Made Fadden of er are now by be shipped. As other contraband goods, e.g., salt, there ms to be no right on the part of one Govern- to claim the assistance of another Govern- bent in preventing the export of such articles. ggestion that all permits should be issued untersigned by the Chinese Customs is not easible in view of the previous declaration gain: tolerating any officer of the Chinese Customs exercising his functions within British jurisdiction.
8 Any legislation that this Government may reasonably be called upon to enact to prevent the freedom of the port being abused to the prejudics of the neighbouring Empire will be introduced, but I submit that to give effect to the discarded proposals of Sir Robert Hart would be to hand over this free port to the domination of the Chinese Customs.
With reference to the quid pro quo of an easier working of the West River trade and of that likely to grow up under the new inland steam navigation rules which is suggested in the con- cluding portion of the Inspector General's letter, it is not necessary to say more than that the easy working of those regulations is already the duty of China and cannot be accepted 18 - reason for granting to China abnormal jurisdiction within this colony. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, W. BLACK. Major-General, Administering the Government, The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlian
M.P &c., &c., &c.,
HB.M. MINISTER, PEXING, TO OFFICER. ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.
PEKING, 11th July, 1898. SIR-I have the honour to enclose, for Your Excellency's consideration, copy of a letter
addressed by Sir Robert Hart, in which he sets forth the arrangements necessary, in his opinion, for the protection of Chinese revenue under the new circumstances created by the recent exten- zion of Hongkong territory.
A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for For- eign Affairs.—I have the honour to be sir, your most obedient servant, t
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,
His Excellency Major-General Wilsone Black, .B, Administering the Government, Hong-
kong.
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or from China The Customs ought also to have the right to one or more special jetties in proximity to junk anchorages at which cargo may be examined and verified. A
+
+
B3 | Jaly 8.1898
these vessels altogether from these waters and thus decrease its expenditure while increasing its revenue.
The Chamber of Commerce has not entered 3.-The Chinese Customs' ornisers and sufficiently into detail in this matter, but I ven- launches may continue to exercise their functure to suggest for your consideration's work tions within the waters of the leased territory. able plan which may be summarized somewhat
4,-No opium, raw or boiled, shall be landed as follows:— or stored, taken delivery of or shipped in Hong- kong. British Kowloon, or any of the leased ter- ritory without a permit to be issued by a Colonial Authority. Opium moved without permit, or found anywhere or in any quantity in contra- vention of Colonial Ordinance, shall be confis cated,
5.-The Opinm Farm, ie., an official establish ment with an exclusive right to retail (only boiled) opium shall be maintained, and the Ordinances Nos. 22 of 1887 and 2 of 1891, con- cerning opium movement, &c., shall be con- firmed and amended to meet new circumstances and to make good those points on which they are insufficient.
The boiling establishments of the Farm, its retailing shops, and its books and accounts shall be open at any time to the inspection of officers of the Chinese Customs specially deputed for that purpose.
6.-All Ordinances regarding the possession, movements, preparation, or sale of opium in the Colony and its waters, afloat and ashore, shall be rigidly enforced by the Colonial Executive and its officers rewarded from proceeds of seizures with a view to encouraging zeal.
All proceeds of sale of confiscated goods shall be divided equally between the Chinese and Colonial Governments.
7.-No arms, munitions of war, or contra- band goods may be shipped on any vessels pro ceeding to a Chinese port in Hongkong or its waters, without a permit issued or counter- signed by the Chinese Customs.
8-The Hongkong Government shall pass such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above provisions.
The above numbered paragraphs are put for- ward merely to represent what I consider is proper should be done at Hongkong to meet Chinese revenue requirements. I may, how provides for, and more especially the recognised ever, express the opinion that the system it
presence of a fully authorized Chinese Customs enabling measures to be taken which will make establishment at Hongkong, gives promise of the working of the West River trade, especially at those places of call to seawards of the first port (Samshui), considerably easier than
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF CHINESE IMPERIAL at present; also of securing arrangements which
might facilitate the trade anticipated to grow up under the new inland steam rules. In both respects anything may that be possible--and without a Customs House I do not see that much will be possible-is sure to redound to the com- mercial advantage of the colony as well as of the Chinese trade. On this point, however, the ocasion does not call upon me to say more at present.--I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
1st.-On arrival of ship from Indis her mani- fest handed to Harbour Master, Supplemented if need be by a return from the Calontta Cus- toms of Opium shipped.
2nd. All opium to be stored in godowns un der Government control.
3rd.-No opium to be moved from these go- downs without permit from Harbour Master.
4th.-Harbour Master receives a copy of Bill of Lading of all Opium shipped.
5th, Harbour Master sends every evening to Imperial Maritime Customs return of all Opium shipped and whither bound.
6th.-Imperial Maritime Customs can then arrange for the duty on this amount of Oplum at the port of destination
I forward this letter from the Chamber of Commerce without delay as I consider it right, should you think its contents worthy of consider- ation, that the letter should reach you as soon as possible-I have the honour to be. sir, your most obedient Servant.
W. BLACK Major-General
Administering the Government. The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain,
M.P. &C., &C., &n
SECRETARY, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO
COLONIAL SECRETARY. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 12th August, 1898. air, In view of the extension of territory acquired by the Convention of the 9th June, I am instructed by the Committee of this Cham-
ber to lay before the Government their opinion on the question of the Chinese Imperial Mari- time. Customs vis-à-vis this colony. The Com- mittee believe that some understanding was given to the effect that the extension of the
the desire to assist the Chinese Government in boundaries should not prove a source of loss to the Chinese revenue, and they quite concur in
hampering the trade, or impeding the develop the matter, so long as it can be done without ment, of the colony, the future prospects of which, with enlarged boundaries, on its present basis of absolute freedom, are very pro- mising. To secure their fulfilment, however, it the existing Customs Stations must be removed should, in the first place, be laid down that to Chinese territory, outside the Colony's boundaries, and that the harbour be jealously craft of any description. The delays and guarded from the intrusion of Chinese revenue obstructions to the movements of shipping, were the Chinese Customs allowed a free hand in our waters, would constitute a serious interference
MARITIME CUSTOMB TO H.B.M. MINISTER, PEKING." Inspectorate General of Customs,
Peking, 27th June, 1898. Sir,I have the honour to acknowledge re- ceipt of Your Excellency's despatch of 24th June, informing me that you have received a communication from Her Majesty's Secretary State for Foreign Affairs asking you, in view of the recent leasing to Great Britain of part of Kowloon peninsula and the adjacent islands, That arrangements the Imperial Maritime Customs of Chins would propose and where His Excellency Sir C. M. MacDonald, K.C.B., interchange of produce between Victoria and
stations would be placed, and in reply to state in the following numbered paragraphs what, in
K.O.M.G., &c., &c., &c.
ROBERT HART,
I. G. of Customs.
my opinion, will be necessary in and around | OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT
:
Hongkong and its new territory to safeguard the revenue interests of China a task which will be made, in consequence of the increased ares to be looked after, both onerous and ex- pensive. The proposals are made in the belief that Her Majesty's Government desire to give Chins liberal and sustained support in the pro- tention, of her revenue in that neighbourhood:
1,The right of the Chinese Customs to maintain its office in Hongkong-where it is now only unofficially acknowledged ought to be formally admitted and the status of the Commissioner of (Customs as a Chinese official
The existing sub-station at Chang- Capenimoon, Lai-chee-kok, and Fotochow to be maintained me at present although the leased territory. If it should other stations are required they titutedir vein irad taisai vurde The Chinese Customs at Hongkong shall right there to collect duty and likin pinm and similarly dues and duties on cargy shipped on any native vessel to
TO BECRETARY OF STATE.
Government House,
Hongkong, 18th August, 1898. Sir-With reference to my despatch No. 221 of the 29th ultimo forwarding arguments against the acceptance of Sir Robert Hart's proposals for the working of the Imperial Maritime Customs after we have taken over the newly leased territory, I have the honour to transmit for your consideration copy of a letter from the local Chamber of Commerce which embodies, I believe, the views of most of the commercial men in Hongkong on this subject.
As regards their reference to assisting for a quid pro quo the Chinese Govern- ment more than at present in collection of duties on opium, I think it quite possible that steps might be taken in this direction, and as opium is after all the chief commodity for which the Chinese Government keeps up its expensive fleet of cruisers and launches round Hongkong, the Chinese Government might, in exchange for this increased aid, bo induced to withdraw
with that freedom, which has mainly contributed to build up the present prosperity of this port. Without such provision, too, it would be impos- sible to have that free communication and
the outlying additions to the Colony, which may naturally be expected to develop.
That some advantage might accrue to the Colony by its being placed on the footing of a
Treaty Port, and therefore participating in the m
facilities afforded by the Inland Steam Regula- tions, is quite possible, but such advantages would be greatly outweighed by the counter- balancing drawbacks. For the Colony to accept them as equivalent for the freedom of the port, would be like bartering its birthright for a mess of pottage."
This Chamber, while invincibly opposed to the continuance in the Colony of the Customs Collectorate of a Foreign State, have no wish to place any impediment in the way of that State obtaining its rightful revenue, nor d they desire that a single dollar should be ma by the ongkong Government at the expense of China, but this can, they believe, be readily effected without the maintenance of any Customs Stations or Collectorate withi the Colony.
The chief article which requires special pro- tection for the Chinese Government is opium, and the Committee are of opinion that, in
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