OPIUM CONVENTION

OPIUM CONVENTION

4-OPIUM CONVENTION

AGREEMENT between her Majesty's counsul at tientsin, the Puisne
Judge of Hongkong, the Inspector-Gernral of Customs, and the
Joint Commissioner for china, respecting the Opium Trade at
Hongkong. Signed at Hongkong, 11 th September, 1886.

MEMORANDUM of the Bases of Agreement arrived at after discussion
between Mr.Byron Brenan, Her Majesty's consul at tientsin.
Mr.James Russell, Puisne Judge of Hongkong , and sir Robert
Hart, K.C.M.G., Inspector-General of customs, and Shao Tao-
tai, Joint commissioners for china, in pursuance ofArticle
7, section III, of the AGreement between Great Britian and
china signed at Chefoo on th 13 th September, 1876, and of
section 9 of the Additional Article to the said Agreement signed
at London on the 18 the July, 1885.

Mr. Russell undertakes that the Government of Hongkong shal sub-
mit to the Legislative council and Ordinance for the regulation of the
trade of the Colony in raw opium, subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth and providing-

1. For the prohibition of the import and export of opium in quantities
less than one chest.*

2. For rendering illegal the possession of raw opium, its custody or
control in quantities less than one ches, except by the opium farmer.

3. That all opium arriving in the Colony be reported to the Habour
master, and that no opium shall be transshipped, landed, stored or
removed from one store to another, or re-exported, without a permit from
the Harbour Master and notice to the opium farmer.




4. For the keeping by importers, exporters, and godown owners, in
such form as the Governor inay require, books showing the movement of
opium.
5. For taking stock of quantities in the stores, and search for de-
ficiencies by the opium farmer, and for furnishing to the Harbour Master
returns of stocks.
6. For amendment of Harbour Regulations as to night clearances of
junks.
The conditions on which it is agreed to submit the Ordinance are-
1. That China arranges with Macao for the adoption of equivalent
measures.
2. That the Hongkong Government shall lie entitled to repeal the
Ordinance if it be found to be injurions to the revenue or to the legitimate
trade of the Colony.
3. That an office under the Foreign Inspectorate shall be established
on Chinese territory at a convenient spot on the Kowloon side for sale of
Chinese opium-duty certificates, which shall be freely sold to all comers,
and for such quantities of opirtin as they may require.
4. That opium accompanied by such certificates, at the rate of not more
than 110 taels per piculs, shall be free from all further imposts of every
sort, and have all the benefits stipulated for by the Additional Article oil
behalf of opium on which duty has been paid- at one of the ports of
China, and that it may be made up in sealed parcels at the option of the
purchaser.
5. t The junks trading between Chinese ports and Hongkong, and
their cargoes, shall not be subject to any dues or duties in excess of those
leviable on junks and their cargoes trading between Chinese ports and
Macao, and that no dues whatsoever shall be demanded from junks
coming to Hongkong from ports in Ckina, or proceeding from Hong-
kong to ports in China, over and above the dues paid or payable at the
ports of clearance or destination.
6. That the officer of the Foreign Inspectorate, who will be responsible
for the management of the Kowloon office, shall investigate and settle
any complaints made by junks trading with Hongkong against. the
Native Customs Revenue stations or curisers, and that the Governor of
Hongkong, if lie deems it advisable, shall be entitled , to send a
Hongkong officer to be present and assist in. the investigation and
decision. If, however, they do not agree, a reference may be made to
the authorities at Peking for.a joint decision.
Sir Robert Hart undertakes, on behalf of himself and Shao Tao-Tai
(who was compelled by unvoidable circuffistances to leave before the

t See Tr eatv of 5th September, 1C02. Artiele 111.

sittings of the Commission were terminated), that the Chinese Govern-
inent shall agree to the above conditions.

The Undersigned are of opinion that if these arrangements are fully
carried out a fairly satisfactory solution of the questions connected with
the so-called ' Hon gkong blockade ' will have been arrived at.
Signed in triplicate at Hongkong this Ilth day of September, 1886.

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1028

1912

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