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23. International Banking Corporation, an American Concern with paid-up
capital of $3,250,000 Gold and a yet larger Reserve Fund.
24. Luzon Sugar Refining Company, capital $700,000.
25. Nestlé & Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company.
26. North China Insurance Company, authorized capital £150,000, paid-up
£50,000, with large Reserve Funds.
·
27. Peak Tramways Company, capital $750,000.
28. Peninsular & Oriental Stean Navigation Company.
29. South British Insurance Company, subscribed capital £1,000,000, paid-
up $300,000.
30. Union Insurance Society of Canton, capital $3,100,000, paid-up
$1,240,000 with large Reserve Funds.
31. Union Waterboat Company, capital $500,000.
32. Vacuum Oil Company. An important American concern.
33. A. S. Watson & Co., Ld., capital $900,000,
34. West Point Building Company, capital $625,000.
4. Mr. Landale, the Hongkong head of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., and Mr. Shellim, the Hongkong head of Messrs. David Sassoon & Co., Ltd., as nominated members upon the Legislative Council, might not unnaturally have been expected to have some bias against the petition, but Mr. Landale informed me quite frankly that he was in favour of an Un-official Majority on the Legislative Council and was generally in favour of the other objects of the l'etition but that he thought that it would be an ungracious act for him to sign because the Hong- kong head of Jardine, Matheson & Co. had always been nominated by the Govern- ment to a seat on the Legislative Council, without the necessity of any election, and that, by signing himself, he might be affecting in the above respect the position of future heads of Jardine, Matheson & Co. Mr. Shellim wrote to me that he was sorry that he could not see his way to signing the Petition as he did not consider" the time opportune, but that generally he agreed with it and thought that it would have a better chance if brought forward at a more fitting opportunity.
Sir Paul Chater, who, as Mr. Chater, signed in 1894, the Petition to the House of Commons which asked (inter alia) not only for a British Un-official Majority on the Legislative Council but also for freedom of debate and voting for the Official Members, expressed his unwillingness to sign any such Petition now, on the ground that the time was inopportune because of the war.
1. Mr. Edkins who is in charge of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire here, without committing himself to any definite view either for or against the objects of the Petition, stated that it would, in any event, be impossible for him, as paid Manager of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, to sign any such Petition without first referring the matter home to the partners in that firm for their decision.
Mr. Stabb, Chief Manager of the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, stated his view that no change of any sort in the constitution was required.
With all due deference to Mr. Stabb's view I would point out:
(i.) That a former Chief Manager of that Bank, Sir Thomas Jackson, K.C.M.G. (then Mr. Jackson) signed the above-mentioned Peti- tion to the House of Commons in 1894, at a time when he had not only been thief Manager of the Bank for 18 years but had also had some personal experience himself as an Un-official Mem- ber of the Legislative Council.
(ii.) That all the Directors of the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank (except Mr. Edkins who adopted a non-committal attitude as above stated) are in general agreement with the Petition.