be kept by the firm, in which are to be entered in detail the number of sporting guns and ammunition thus imported, the names and addresses of the purchasers, and the dates of delivery. These registers will be open for Customs inspection when called for. The total number of all kinds of sporting cartridges combined imported by a foreign firm in one consignment must not exceed ten thousand rounds. (d) The expression "sporting guns and cartridges imported by foreigners" refers exclusively to sporting shot-guns and ammunition for same. Military arms and ammunition must not be fraudulently imported under any pretext. 5o. Registers. A special record of all importations of arms and ammunition for the personal use of foreigners, giving the importer's name and nationality, the date, number of packages, &c., will be kept at every port by the Superintendent as well as by the Commissioner of Customs, in which the amount of duty collected in every instance will also be noted. Similarly, a special record of arms and ammunition imported by or for the Chinese Government is to be kept, giving the purchasing Government department, the provincial authority which issued the Huchao and the number of such Huchao, the number of packages, &c. At the end of every year copies of these records will be submitted to the Shui-wu Ch'u. (N.B.-The Commissioner's copies will, as usual, be transmitted through the Inspector General.) 6°. Prohibition on Importation of Military Arms and Ammunition. The importation of such military or naval arms and ammunition as have not been purchased by Chinese Government departments, military, naval, or civil, continues to be prohibited in accordance with the existing treaties. 7°. Duty Treatment. Duty at the rate of 5 per cent. ad valorem will be collected. on arms and ammunition imported under the provisions of rules 20, 30, and 4°. 8°. Transhipment. Permission to tranship at Shanghai arms and ammunition imported for purposes of self-defence or sport by foreigners. residing at other ports will be given if the Shanghai Consul concerned applies to the Shanghai Customs, giving the name of the purchaser and the number of packages. On arrival of such transhipment cargo at the port of destination, the purchaser will still have to obtain from the Superintendent of Customs, through his Consul, the necessary Permit to Import to be presented with the cargo in question to the Customs, who will release it after examination and payment of duty. 9°. Provision against Abuses. The above regulations, based on the new rules drawn up by the Shui-wu Ch'u, have been revised in a liberal sense with a view to obviating certain inconveniences pointed out by the Diplomatic Corps. They are to come into force from the 1st July, 1908, the beginning of the 192nd quarter. Arms and ammunition imported before that date are to be dealt with in accordance with the original regulations. The present revised rules will be amended from time to time as required, to provide against such abuses as may arise after they have come into operation. RESOLUTIONS adopted by the International Opium Commission. Shanghai, February 26, 1909.* THE following resolutions were adopted on February 26, 1909, by the International Opium Commission, sitting at Shanghai: Be it resolved :-- 1. That the International Opium Commission recognizes the unswerving sincerity of the Government of China in their efforts to eradicate the production and consumption of opium throughout the Empire; the increasing body of public opinion among their own subjects by which these efforts are being supported; and the real, though unequal, progress already made in a task which is one of the greatest magnitude. 2. That in view of the action taken by the Government of China in suppressing the practice of opium-smoking, and by other Governments to the same end, the International Opium Commission recommends that each delegation concerned The following countries sent Delegations:-Great Britain, AustriaHungary, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Siam, and the United States of America. move its own Government to take measures for the gradual suppression of the practice of opium-smoking in its own territories and possessions, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned. 3. That the International Opium Commission finds that the use of opium in any form otherwise than for medical purposes is held by almost every participating country to be a matter for prohibition or for careful regulation; and that each country in the administration of its system of regulation purports to be aiming, as opportunity offers, at progressively increasing stringency. In recording these conclusions, the International Opium Commission recognizes the wide variations between the conditions prevailing in the different countries, but it would urge on the attention of the Governments concerned the desirability of a re-examination of their systems of regulation in the light of the experience of other countries dealing with the same problem. 4. That the International Opium Commission finds that each Government represented has strict laws which are aimed directly or indirectly to prevent the smuggling of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations into their respective territories; in the judgment of the International Opium Commission it is also the duty of all countries to adopt reasonable measures to prevent at ports of departure the shipment of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations, to any country which prohibits the entry of any opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations. 5. That the International Opium Commission finds that the unrestricted manufacture, sale, and distribution of morphine already constitute a grave danger, and that the morphine habit shows signs of spreading: the International Opium Commission, therefore, desires to urge strongly on all Governments that it is highly important that drastic measures should be taken by each Government in its own territories and possessions to control the manufacture, sale, and distribution of this drug, and also of such other derivatives of opium as may appear on scientific enquiry to be liable to similar abuse and productive of like ill-effects. 6. That as the International Opium Commission is not constituted in such a manner as to permit the investigation from a scientific point of view of anti-opium remedies and of the properties and effects of opium and its products, but deems such investigation to be of the highest importance, the International Opium Commission desires that each delegation shall recommend this branch of the subject to its own Government for such action as that Government may think necessary. 7. That the International Opium Commission strongly urges all Governments possessing concessions or settlements. in China, which have not yet taken effective action toward the closing of opium divans in the said concessions and settlements, to take steps to that end, as soon as they may deem it possible, on the lines already adopted by several Governments. 8. That the International Opium Commission recommends. strongly that each delegation move its Government to enter into negotiations with the Chinese with a view to effective and prompt measures being taken in the various foreign concessions and settlements in China for the prohibition of the trade and manufacture of such anti-opium remedies as contain opium or its derivatives. 9. That the International Opium Commission recommends. that each delegation move its Government to apply its pharmacy laws to its subjects in the consular districts, concessions, and settlements in China. On behalf of the International Opium Commission, CHARLES H. BRENT, President of the International Opium Certified : FRED. W. CAREY, XAVIER DE LAFORCADE, Secretaries. BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL respecting Assessor's Fees at the Mixed Court at Shanghai. London, June 28, 1909.* At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 28th day of June, 1909PRESENT THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL WHEREAS by "The Consular Salaries and Fees Act, 1891,"t His Majesty the King is authorized by Order in Council to fix the fees to be taken in respect of any matter or thing done + See Vol. 19, page 352. "London Gazette," July 6, 1909. by a Consular officer in the execution of his office, and to vary such fees by way of increase or decrease, and to abolish fees and to create new fees; And whereas it is expedient that the table of fees fixed by the China and Corea (Consular and Marriage Fees) Order in Council, 1906,* should, in certain respects, be added to, and that fees should be created in respect of the attendance of Consular officers in the Mixed Court at Shanghai, and in respect of the assistance rendered by Consular officers to British litigants in such Court; Now, therefore, in pursuance of the before-mentioned Act, His Majesty is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows: 1. This Order may be cited as "The China and Corea (Consular Fees) Order in Council, 1909." 2. The several fees set forth in the table annexed to this Order are hereby established, and the said table shall be construed as part of this Order. 3. This Order shall come into operation on such date as His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai shall appoint. 4. This Order shall extend to all places in China and Corea. And the Right Honourable Sir Edward Grey, Baronet, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein. A. W. FITZROY. SCHEDULE. Table of Consular Fees to be taken in respect of Assistance rendered by the Assessor in the Mixed Court at Shanghai. 1. On application to the Assessor for his request for the assistance of the Chinese authorities, including filing petition : £100 or upwards For each complete £100 not exceeding a total fee of £5. 2. On each subsequent communication in writing to the Chinese authorities 2 6 3. Hearing fee on each attendance of the Assessor at a sitting of the Court... 10 0 See Vol. 24, page 332. |