Seeking an explanation for this your correspondent yesterday called at Government Headquarters and was informed by a Chinese official that the tax machinery still needs a bit of oiling before it will function efficiently, but that by the end of the month hi mates that it will be running so smoothly, that it will be Just as difficult for one to escape payment of customs' duty as it wilh be for him to bring in goods without paying the extra 2) per cent, The Government revenue officials, moreover, have not paid much atten vents of foreign firms thus far because of the Government'e policy of not being too hard on the foreigner at first. It is realized that many of these shipments were pur chased in foreign lands and were well on their way when news of the intention of the Government to levy the new tax first became public, and in some cases it may well be that contracts for the sale of the goods were entered into as well, Careful consideration will be given to the complaints of the foreigner who claims that he wil suffer great hardship if his present shipments are taxed, and, in meritorious cases, the tax will be waived.
Delegate ta Macs to Discuss
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