Legation of
the United States,
London, November 26, 1887.
(Received December 6.)
No. 628.]
[Inclosure in No. 628.]
Sir J. Pauncefote
to Mr. Phelps.
Foreign
Office, November 25,
1887.
Sir: Since the date of my note to you of the
31st ultimo I have been in telegraphic communication with Her Majesty’s
minister at Peking regarding the question of the collection at Hong-Kong
by Chinese officials of lekin on kerosene oil shipped thence to
Canton.
Sir J. Walsham informs me that the private lekin collectorate at
Hong-Kong, of which complaint was made, has ceased since Sir Robert Hart
took charge of” the Chinese customs stations, which, except in regard to
opium, have no concern with foreign trade ships or foreigners at
Hong-Kong.
Kerosene oil shipped from Hong-Kong in Chinese crafts to a treaty port is
subjected to a lekin duty which the Chinese customs service collects at
Hong-Kong for the account of the Chinese provincial authorities of the
port of destination, in addition to the native tariff duty; but if the
oil is conveyed in a foreign vessel, the foreign importer pays import
duty according to maritime tariff at the port of entry and the lekin
duty is not levied until it passes into the hands of the Chinese dealer,
and is then collected, not by the maritime customs service, but by
native officials.
Sir J. Walsham further states that lekin on the oil in the Canton
province has been considerably reduced, and that the import duties
collected under the native tariff may perhaps shortly be so also.
Under the circumstances described by Sir J. Walsham, it does not appear
that there is any ground for representations to the Chinese Government
based on treaty rights, as there is no interference with foreign
shipping, and the lekin is not levied on the oil so long as it remains
in foreign hands.
I have, etc.,
