Page 220 - The colours of each piece: production and consumption of Chinese enamelled porcelain, c.1728-c.1780

CHAPTER 6 A New Context of Porcelain Trade 1760-1770

6.2. The Regulations of Shopkeepers in 1755

It is significant that in 1755, a major step was taken to regulate various types of dealers

at Canton, legally and functionally. The responsibility of Hong merchants was

clarified. In regard to non-Hong merchants, trade was restricted to retail trade.

The reason for the local government to regulate was to prevent evil trade and to

collect customs duties. It was believed by the local government that much of the trade

conducted by those shopkeepers was not being reported, and that customs duties were

being evaded. Several regulations were announced relating to Hong Merchants,

Shopkeepers, and interpreters. Of all the regulations, the most important one of

concerning porcelain trade was the reformation on shopkeepers. 19 The local

government wanted to regulate the retail trade and collect their customs. This

regulation, as we will see, had direct impact to the porcelain trade of a later period.

The order given by the local government was that shopkeepers without licences

were forbidden to deal with Europeans under Hong Dispatch directly. It seems that

the trade of porcelain was restrained. However, if we have a closer look at this

regulation, we may find that there was space for shopkeepers to play around. The

purpose of this order was not to expel shopkeepers from trade, but instead to regulate

them and collect customs.

Before such claim had a chance to be put into effect, it was challenged both by

the Hong merchants and the European companies. The Hong merchants were afraid

that such policy would do harm to their partnership with outside merchants and

shopkeepers. They relied on shopkeepers to supply the inland goods, and were trade

19 IOR/R/10/4 1755, p.27; IOR/R/10/3, p.358. 1755.
204