Municipal Council, 23, Kiangse Road, Shanghai, 26th January, 1899.
Sum,—The Commissioner of Customs after further consideration has drawn the attention of the Council to the fact that the collection of Wharfage Dues under a specific tariff is likely to inflict considerable inconvenience and delay on merchants in the passing of cargo through the Customs; he proposes therefore as an arrangement more satisfactory in every way, that these duos should be levied at " general rate of 2% on the Customs Duties, a procedure which, while well within the limits prescribed by the Land Regulations would render the collection of dues simple and generally effective. Exceptions to this procedure would naturally be made in the case of silk, opium, tea, and treasure, upon which the levy would be made in accordance with the tariff recently drawn up.
The Council after careful consideration of the question in all its bearings is convinced that the Commissioner's proposed amendment of procedure would lead to the best results, producing "revenue equal to between 1/15th and 1/20th of 1% on the average value of imports and exports, levied with a minimum of inconvenient to the public, A statement giving figures on which this opinion is based is now enclosed for the information of the Chamber.
It is therefore proposed to submit a resolution in the above sense at the forthcoming Ratepayers' Meeting. In the meanwhile the Council will be glad to learn that the proposed amendment in procedure commends itself to the Chamber of Commerce.
have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. 0. P. Buasp, Secretary. Drvsmoxp Har, Esq.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.