[Translation.]
Prince Kung to Mr. Burlingame,
April 22, 1867, (Tungchi, 6th year. 3d moon, 18th
day.)
Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes
a communication :
I find in the records of this office that in the month of February, last
year, the inspector general of customs, Mr. Hart, brought forward
several points of great inportance relating to the better regulation of
trade at the ports, which would, if settled, be advantageous to all
parties; and embodied them in four separate articles.
It is generally admitted that in the collection of duties the principle
of promoting general advantage and removing whatever embarrasses trade,
is to be followed even in comparatively small matters. The inspector
general has now drawn up three regulations, all of them of much
importance in carrying on customs affairs, and calculated to facilitate
the collection of duties, while they will not interfere in the
transaction of business, which I now submit for the consideration of
your excellency, reserving for another despatch the regulations
respecting pilotage. As soon as I receive your reply on these three
regulations, I will cause orders to be sent to the superintendents of
commerce for the northern and southern ports, directing them to carry
the same into effect at all the custom-houses.
Hon. Anson Burlingame, United
States Minister to China,
I. Passengers Luggage.
Shipmasters become liable to a fine if they allow any passenger’s
luggage to leave the vessel before the arrival of a tidewaiter on
board.
Luggage supposed to contain dutiable goods or articles of contraband,
if not at once opened by the owner for examination on board, may be
detained and taken to the custom-house; the owner can there reclaim
it and be present when it is opened and examined.
If not claimed within three days the customs will proceed with the
examination.
The presence of dutiable goods or contraband subjects the luggage to
confiscation, and the owner to a fine.
II. Duty-free Goods.
Duty-free goods are not to be discharged until after the issue of the
“permit to open hatches.” Any violation of this rule subjects the
master of the ship to a fine, of which the amount is fixed by the
treaty, and renders the goods liable to confiscation, whether landed
or merely placed in cargo boats alongside.
Duty-free goods, whether imported or exported, are to be duly
manifested; they are not to be shipped or discharged without the
proper permits, (as in the case of dutiable goods,) and they must in
every instance be taken to the customs jetty for examination.
[Page 482]
III. Steam Tugs.
The registers of steamers plying as tugs should be deposited with the
consul; on the receipt of a consular report, certifying that the
steamer is to ply as a tug and is not to engage in any carrying
trade, the customs will register the steamer as such, upon and after
which, without report to or clearance from the customs, the steamer
may come and go, and move about at pleasure in the harbor and waters
adjacent.
If about to proceed to any other treaty port, such steam-tugs must
clear from and report to the customs in the ordinary way; and
failing to do so will be liable to a fine of 500 taels.
Tonnage dues shall be payable by steam-tugs once in four months.
If discovered to be concerned in any smuggling transaction, or in the
unauthorized transport of cargo the goods will be confiscated, and
the steamer will no longer be regarded as a tug, but will have to
report at and clear from the customs on each future occasion of
arrival in or departure from the harbor.
