24
Appendix I.
No. 719.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 28th August, 1878.
In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, with reference to the registration of Members of Chinese firms trading in Hongkong, I am to state for the information of the Chamber of Commerce that the question received the careful consideration of Sir Arthur Kennedy who thought it would be very inexpedient to carry out such registration and that Governor Pope Hennessy is disposed to take the same view of the
matter.
2. His Excellency will however come to no decision until he has had some further opportunity of studying the details of Chinese trade in the Colony.
E. GEORGE, Esq.,
Secretary to the
CHAMBER Of Commerce,
Appendix J.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. M. PRICE, Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 23rd September, 1878.
The letter received under date 5th November, 1877, in reply to my letter of the 2nd November, 1877, was considered by the Committee of the Chamber at their last meeting and it was resolved to again revert to the subject and to bring to the attention of His Excellency the Governor that the Cummittee are of opinion that the publication or registration of the members of the Chinese hongs in this Colony is much called for. The members composing foreign firms are made known and it cannot be requiring too much of the Chinese Mercantile Community in this Colony to conform to a rule which is voluntarily followed by other nations, but which they decline to observe.
The Chinese will not give the necessary information on account of the responsibility which would be brought home to many who, under the present system, evade their liability for losses by not appearing as interested in concerns, in the profits of which they participate, but for the losses connected with which, when they occur, they avoid responsibility by not being known as partners in the business.
The Chamber desires no interference with the Chinese forms of partnership, but it is much wished that the names of partners in hongs should be known in the interest of the mercantile public generally.
A feeling of security would be the result from such information being given, and the Chamber are of opinion an Ordinance should be passed making it necessary for hongs to declare who their members are.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
W. KESWICK,
Chairman,
The Honourable
CHARLES MAY,
Acting Colonial Secretary-
No. $66.
Appendix K.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 5th October, 1878.
SIR,
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo stating that the Chamber of Commerce desire again to revert to the proposed registration of the Partners of Chinese firms and suggesting that an Ordinance should be passed making it necessary for hongs to declare who their members are.