1917

70
OPIUM AGREEMENT
YI.—The Chinese Government nudeitake to levy a uniform tax on all opium
grown in the Chinese Empire. His Majesty’s Government consent to increase the
present consolidated import duty on Indian opium to Tls. 350 per chest of 100
catties, such increase to take effect as soon as the Chinese Government levy an
equivalent excise tax on all native opium.
VII. —On confirmation of this Agreement and beginning with the collection of
the new rate of consolidated import duty, China will at once cause to1 be withdrawn
all restrictions placed by the Provincial authorities on the wholesale trade in Indian
opium, such as those recently imposed at Canton and elsewhere, and. also all taxation
on the wholesale trade other than the consolidated import duty, and no such
restrictions or taxation shall be again imposed so long as the- Additional Article to
the Chefoo Agreement remains as at present in force.
It is also understood that Indian raw opium having paid the consolidated
import duty shall be exempt from any further taxation whatsoever in the port of
import.
Should the conditions contained in the above two clauses not be duly observed.
His Majesty’s Government shall be at liberty to suspend or terminate this
Agreement at any time.
The foregoing stipulations shall not derogate in any manner from the force of
the laws already published or hereafter to be published by the Imperial Chinese
G-overnment to suppress the smoking of opium and to regulate the retail trade in
the drug in general.
VIII. —With a view to assisting China in the suppression of opium His.
Majesty’s Government undertake that from the year 1911 the Government of India
will issue an export permit with a consecutive number for each chest of Indian
opium declared for shipment to or for consumption in China.
During the year 1911 the number of permits so issued shall not exceed 30,600
and shall be progressively reduced annually by 5,100 during the remaining six years
ending 1917.
A copy of each permit so issued shall, before shipment of opium declared for
shipment to or consumption in China, be handed to the Chinese official for trans¬
mission to his Government, or to the Customs authorities in China.
His Majesty’s Government undertake that each chest of opium for which such
permit has been granted shall be sealed by an official deputed by the Indian
Government in the presence of the Chinese official if so requested.
The Chinese Government undertake that chests of opium so sealed and
accompanied by such permits may be imported into any Treaty Port of China
without let or hindrance if such seals remain unbroken.
IX. —Should it appear on subsequent experience desirable at any time during
the unexpired portion of seven years to modify this Agreement or any part thereof,
it may be revised by mutual consent of the two high contracting parties.
X. —This Agreement shall come into force on the date of signature^
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, by their respective
Governments, have signed the same and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done at Peking in quadruplicate (four in English and four in Chinese) this
eighth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, being the tenth day of
the fourth month of the third year of Hsuan T’ung.
[l.s.] J. N. Jordan.
[l.s.] Tsou Cbia-Lat.