§ MR. GREGSONsaid, he begged to inquire of the noble Viscount the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the notification from the Board of Trade of the 12th instant, published in the London Gazette of the 13th, on the subject of the coasting trade in China, whether the coasting trade in China by British ships is thereby extended beyond the five ports named in the Treaty of 1842; if so, 979 whether British ships might proceed at once under the local authority from Amoy, without waiting for the sanction of the Imperial Government at Pekin; and, whether goods sent coastwise in British ships would be admitted at the same duty as goods imported in Chinese vessels?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that the information which the Government had received on the subject was vague and imperfect. It appeared that the local government at Amoy had granted certain privileges to British vessels engaged in the coasting trade; but Her Majesty's Government did not know whether the privilege extended beyond the five ports, or was confined to them. It did not appear to be granted by Imperial authority, but simply by the local authority of Amoy. The Government had received no information as to whether goods conveyed by British shipping would be liable to a higher rate of duty than goods carried in Chinese ships.