1918

COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN CHINA AND PORTUGAL
133
Art. III.—The duty and lekin on foreign opium will continue as provided for
in existing Treaties. The Gl-overnment of His Most Faithful Majesty agrees to con¬
tinue as heretofore to co-operate with the Government of His Imperial Chinese
Majesty in the collection of the duty and lekin on opium exported from Macao to
China, and also to co-operate in the repression of smuggling in accordance with the
Treaty and Special Opium Convention of 1st December, 1887. In order to render this
co-operation effective, it is clearly stipulated that all opium imported into Macao
shall, on arrival, be registered at the Special Government Bureau provided for this
purpose, and the Portuguese Government will take the necessary steps in order to
have all this opium stored under its exclusive control in a depot from which it will be
removed as required by the demands of trade. The quantity of opium required for
consumption in Macao and its dependencies will be fixed annually by the Government
of Macao in agreement with the Commissioner of the Imperial Maritime Customs
referred to in Article II. of the above-mentioned Convention, and under no pretext
will removal from the Portuguese Government depot be permitted of any quantity of
opium for local consumption in excess of that fixed by the said agreement, and neces¬
sary measures will be taken to prevent opium removed from the depot for re-export
to any port other than a port in China being sent fraudulently to Chinese territory.
The removal from the depot of opium for export will not be permitted except
on production of proof that such opium has already paid all dues and duties leviable
thereon by China. The rules for the carrying out of this Article shall be arranged by
delegates from the Government of Macao and the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs.
Art. IV.—Such steps as are necessary for the repression of smuggling in the
territory and waters of Macao shall be taken by the local Portuguese Government in
concert with the Commissioner of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and similar
steps in the Chinese territory' and waters near Macao shall be taken by the Imperial
Maritime Customs in concert with the Portuguese Government of Macao. This co¬
operation is intended to render such steps effective on all points in respect of which co¬
operation is needed, and to avoid at the same time any injm-y to the sovereign rights
of either of the high contracting parties. Special delegates from the local Government
of Macao and the Imperial Maritime Customs shall proceed to fix the respective zones
of operations, and shall devise practical means for the repression of smuggling.
Art. V.—With a view to the development of trade between Macao and neigh¬
bouring ports in the Kwangtung Province, the high contracting parties have agreed
as follows:—
1. —Portuguese steamers desirous of proceeding for the purposes of trade from
Macao to any of the ports of call and passenger stages on the West Eiver,
•enumerated in the Special Article of the English-Burmah Convention of 1897, and
Article X. of the British Treaty of Commerce of 1902, shall be permitted to do so,
provided they comply with the Special Regulations to be framed for this purpose by
the two high contracting parties.
2. —Steamers specially registered for trade under the Inland Waters Steam
Navigation Rules shall be permitted to ply between Macao and places in the Depart¬
ment of Kwang-chow-fu other than those mentioned in Section 1, provided they
report to the Kungpei-kuan Customs for examination of cargo and payment of duties
in accordance with Special Regulations to be framed for this purpose by the two high
contracting parties. Such vessels may engage in all lawful trade, including the tow¬
age of junks and conveyance of passengers and cargo, subject to the regulations for
the time being in force.
The privileges hereby granted are granted on the express understanding that
.-Special Regulations shall be framed defining in detail the conditions under which
such traffic may be carried on. Until then, the said Regulations have been agreed
upon and published, the Article shall not become operative; and subsequently only
on compliance with the said Regulations.
Art. VI.—Portugal having the right of most favoured nation treatment, it is
clearly stipulated that any advantages China may think fit to grant to any nation in