File No. 788/138–139.
Chargé Fletcher to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking
,
January 10,
1908
.
No. 809.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy
of the “Experimental regulations for the collection of duty on native
and foreign goods shipped to the new ports in Manchuria,” which have
been transmitted to the legation by the foreign office and which provide
for the issuance of certificates exempting such goods imported at
Tientsin, Newchwang, Antung, or Dalny from the payment of further duty,
irrespective of mode of shipment.
Copies of the inclosed have been furnished to our consuls at Tientsin,
Newchwang, Mukden, Antung, and Dalny.
I have, etc.,
[Page 127]
[Inclosure.]
The Prince of Ch’ing
to Chargé Fletcher.
Foreign Office,
Peking
,
November 19,
1907
.
F. O. No. 371.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform
Your Excellency that on November 9 I received the following
communication from the general superintendency of customs:
“In accordance with the arrangement made by this office, in
conjunction with the viceroy of Chihli, foreign goods which have
been paid the regular import duty at Newchwang, if shipped from that
port by rail to any of the newly opened ports in Manchuria, are
given a certificate exempting them from the payment of any further
duties; then, if the goods in question arrive at the port mentioned
within two months, the original certificate is stamped and returned
for cancellation. Instructions to this effect have been issued and
distributed, as the records show.
“It now appears that the ports of Tientsin, Antung, and Dalny should
be classed with Newchwang in this respect; and also, that goods not
forwarded by rail, if really being transshipped to an open port, are
in no way different from those carried on the railway, and should
not, therefore, be subject to different rules. Furthermore, native
goods which have paid the coast trade duty and are transshipped to
ports in Manchuria should also be exempt from further payments. It
is only just that the same regulations which apply to foreign
merchandise should cover native goods as well.
“This office accordingly communicated with the inspector general of
customs, directing him to make some arrangement with reference to
the above points, and in reply has received from him a copy of the
rules which he has drawn up, and which will be put into effect as
experimental regulations.
“We inclose herewith a copy of these rules for your inspection,
respectfully requesting that you will forward copies of them to the
various foreign ministers in Peking, asking them to direct their
nationals to observe the same.”
It becomes my duty, therefore, to inclose herewith a copy of the
rules above mentioned and to request that you will give directions
for their observance.
A necessary dispatch.
[seal of the wai-wu pu.]
[Subinclosure.]
Experimental regulations for the collection of
duty on native and foreign goods shipped to the new ports in
Manchuria.
I. All foreign goods which have paid the regular import duty at
Tientsin, Newchwang, Antung, or Dalny, as well as all native goods
which have paid the coast trade half duty (except such as may be
sent into the interior either under transit pass or by paying likin,
as may still be done at the direction of the owner and under the old
regulations) and which are intended for transshipment to any of the
newly opened ports in Manchuria, will be given a special certificate
exempting them from the payment of further duty, and this is
irrespective of how such goods are to be transshipped to their
destination. This special certificate will be stamped in accordance
with regulations, and will be good for two months only.
Whenever such certificates are applied for a signed declaration must
be presented showing to what port the goods are consigned and
stating that in case evidence of the arrival of the goods in the
port mentioned is not forthcoming within the two months’ limit, the
applicant will be willing to forfeit three times the amount of the
half duty. In order to avoid the trouble of preparing a guaranty on
each occasion, however, it will be permissible to draw up a bond of
a similar nature, which will hold for a year, and to deposit the
same in the customhouse. Such bond, if presented by a foreigner,
must be sealed by a consular officer, and if presented by a Chinese,
must be sealed by the commissioner of customs. If a yearly bond is
not furnished, then a signed declaration made for each shipment will
suffice. The forms for these bonds and declarations shall be
determined upon by the imperial maritime customs.
II. In all cases where goods are shipped to the newly opened ports
under special certificate such goods must correspond exactly with
the declaration.
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In case of any discrepancy or of the shipment of any goods not on the
declaration, not only will the customhouse where such declaration
was made collect a fine amounting to three times the half duty
levied upon the entire shipment, but the goods which have been
shipped to the newly opened port will there be confiscated.
