+
464
the effect of the privilege, if conceded, would be likely to prove beneficial or otherwise to the trade of this colony.
In reply, I am directed by the Committee to say that, although the commercial clauses of the new Treaty with. Japan, embodied in Articles V. to XI., make no special reference to cases in transhipment, the general tenour and meaning of those clauses, providing for fair and equitable treatment, would seem to indicate an intention to include such right. In the absence, however, of a distinct understanding on the subject, it is most desirable that the privilege of tranship. ping at Hongkong should be definitely provided for, inasmuch as a denial of the claim would assuredly have an injurious effect on the trade of the colony-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
my Committee regard the proposed alteration of the tariff under the Treaties with China, and they earnestly hope that before any definite steps are taken in that direction, an opportunity will be afforded to all the Chambers of Commerce in terested to consider and express their views upon any changes that may be contemplated.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
To His Excellency Sir Claude MacDonald, K.C.M.G., Her Britannic Majesty's Minis- ter in China, Peking.
ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT,
At the Magistracy on the 29th May before Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings, Frank Walker, formerly the Hongkong manager of the Vacnum Oil Company, was brought up on remand To Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial charged with embezzling sums of money amount-
Secretary
Secretary.
THE WUCHOW-FU OBSTRUCTION CASE.
Foreign Office, April 3rd, 1896. Sir, I am directed by the Marquis of Salis- bury to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd of March, calling attention to the proceedings of the Chinese authorities at Wachow-fu, by which native traders were deterred from purchasing goods offered for sale by Mr. Andrew.
In reply, I am to state that the unsatisfactory nature of the proclamation issued by the Prefect has been reported by the Acting Consul at Canton to Mr. Beanclerk, who is in communica tion with the Tsungli Yamen on the subject.
ing in all to $2,572.76, belonging to the Vacuum Oil Company.
Mr. K. W. Mounsey prosecuted and defen. dant was represented by Mr. W. Looker (of Mr. V. H. Deacon's office.)
[June 4, 1896.
with the prisoner and after he had obtained the admission from him of a deficiency in the. ac- counts, he telegraphed to the head office for in- structions and he received a reply instructing him to do what was necessary and the best he could for the Company in order either to get. the money replaced or to allow the law to take its course. Every opportunity was given. to the prisoner to raise funds, but un- fortunately he Was nnable to do 80. Mr. Monnsey then described the working of the Company's system of business, which he said was very simple. He then referred to prisoner's action in transferring money from the collection account to the capital account. The actual capital which was supposed to be retained in Hongkong for the purpose of running the business was $500. A cash statement was sent to the receiving office in Singapore every week and when disbursements had been made they would remit the amount by draft at once, so as to keep the capital account up to the prescribed $500. Salaries were remitted direct and not taken out of the capital account.
week the Supposing one
general items amounted to $200, the cash in hand would amount to $300 and it would be necessary to receive a draft for $200 from the Singapore office to raise the capital to $500. After being very dissatisfied with the way in which matters had been going, the head, office telegraphed to Mr. Bottenheim to take charge of the business, and he followed out his instructions and he
In opening the case Mr. Mounsey said the charge was preferred by the Vacuum Oil Com- pany upon information which had been laid by Mr. Bottenheim, who was at present the man- ager in Hongkong for that Company, and the charge brought on that information was that the prisoner had embezzled sums of money belonging to the Company amounting to approached the prisoner with a view to a $2,572.76. After referring to the Ordinance settlement of the accounts, giving him ample time to raise the money. In connection with under which the charge was brought, Mr. Mounsey said the prisoner was appointed to his this he would point out to his Worship that position in the Company some two and a half although Mr. Bottenheim had done all he years ago, and the position he held was that of could to stave matters off for the benefit of the clerk in charge. He had full authority to sign prisoner, yet he had been in a position that cheques for the Company and full authority to compelled him to do his duty in accordance with
the instructions from the head office. collect all monies due to the Company. The gentleman who had laid the information (Mr. Bottenheim) came to the colony in November, 1895, and he came for the special purpose of ob- taining orders for the Company and furthering The Chairman, Hongkong General Chamber their interests in this colony, not in any way to
It is hoped that Mr. Beauclerk will be successful in his efforts to arrive at a proper settlement of Mr. Andrew's case. Her Ma- jesty's Government are pressing the Chinese Government to carry out the spirit of their Treaty obligations in regard to the Transit Pass system. I am, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant,
of Commerce.
T. H. SANDERSON.
THE IMPORT DUTIES ON FOREIGN GOODS IN CHINA.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 16th May, 1896. Sir,-An announcement made by Renter's Agency on the 4th instant to the effect that His Excellency Li Hnng-chang intends visiting the Courts of the various Treaty Powers partly with a view to obtaining an increase of five to eight per cent. ad valorem of the import duties levied on foreign goods in China has aroused the attention of this Chamber; the question being ong
that seriously concerns all those engaged in commerce in this colony and the Chinese Treaty ports.
Whilst recognising the fact that, under certain conditions and guarantees, the duties might not unreasonably be subjected to some increase, the Committee are most anxious that the principle even should not be conceded unless it is Brst laid down that the increased duty is to free the goods absolutely from all further charge throughout the Chinese Empire. That is to say, an increased import duty, levied at the port of arrival, shall render such goods free of lekin and all other taxes whatsoever.
Supposing the Chinese Government concede this point, the question theu remains, what guarantees can be obtained that the various local imposts, which are at present the mainstay of the officials in South China, will not still remain a burden on the back of trade, rendered the more intolerable to the extent of the addi- tional duty? The guarantees would need to be ample and reliable, similar to those afforded in certain matters by the collection being placed in the hands of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs.
The unfortunate failure of the Imperial Government, when negotiating the provisions of the new Treaty with Japan, to consult with, or refer the matter to, the Hongkong Govern ment, was the means of placing the leading industry in this colony at a most serious disad vantage, whereby a disastrous, if not fatal. blow will be given to its sugar refining trade wheu the Treaty comes into force.
It is therefore not without much anxiety that
|
Mr. Looker asked his Worship if he would deal with the case summarily. He had power
to do so.
:
Mr. Mounsey-I can only mention that I am instructed that the Company has no wish to do anything which may be comfered by anybody to be unduly harsh, and as your Worship has the power to deal with this matter summarily, and as by so doing the sentence would be very considerably reduced, there is no reason as far
look after the accounts or do any clerical work, that work being confided to the care of the prisoner. The relative positions of the two gentlemen were absolutely distinct. After Mr. Bottenheim came here--or he might say hefore he came here the Company were considerably dissatisfied with what was going on and they instructed Mr. Bottenheim to become acquainted with all the office work that was necessary for properly carrying on the business of the Com-power to deal with the case summarily.
Ultimately Mr. Bottenheim received pany. telegraphic communication from the head office of the Company by which he was entrusted with the whole of the management of the business of the Company in Hongkong and instructed to minutely examine its affairs; The telegram was sent in consequence of a letter which had been previously written to Mr. Bottenheim giving him instructions to acquaint himself with the workings of the Company's Hongkong busi- ness and sigu cheques, but that letter was not to be put into execution until the receipt of this confirmatory telegram. He then talked matters over with the prisoner and the result of it was that Mr. Walker was found deficient in his accounts to the extent of the sum men. tioned in the charge. In order to make mat- ters more clear Mr. Bottenheim obtained from
I can see why you should not do so. I am perfectly willing to agree to this course if your Worship considers you have the power.
Mr. Looker submitted that his Worship had
the prisoner a letter, dated 21st May, which read as follows: In balancing the accounts I find I am $2,572.76 short in the Vacuum Oil Company's account in the Hong- kong and Shanghai Bank. It is my intention to wire to London to private sources for this amount, which I am certain to obtain im- mediately, and I will at once hand the amount over to you." The sum of $2,576.72 was made up as follows:-Total amount of cash memos of payments received by the prisoner for the month of April and May, $3,220.62; the balance in the Bank, according to the pass book, amounted to $539.01, and the balance of these two amounts was $2,681.61. Now out of this amount the prisoner had transferred to the capital account, but which he had no authority to do, the sum of $108.85, in order to bring the capital account up to its proper amount, and that left a balance due from him to the Company of $2,572.76. After Mr. Bottenheim had been through the accounts
His Worship-I will consider the point. Mr. Bottenheim was then called and said he was manager in Hongkong for the Vacuum He came to Hongkong in Oil Company. November last to further the interests of the Company, to obtain contracts, and to work a list of firms which had been entrusted to his care entirely. Defendant was at that time clerk in charge of the business. The special order was given to the defendant to sign firm in January last. cheques for the Defendant had been in Hongkong about 24 years. Witness had no specific instructions on being sent to Hongkong except that he was to report direct any irregularities that might come under his notice. He received letters from the Bombay office complaining of the manner in which the work was being con- ducted by Mr. Walker and on the 30th March he was authorised to handle the bank account. He refused to go into the accounts unless he had authority to take full responsibility. On the 19th ult. he received a telegram stating that the business was left entirely to his charge, and ordering a minute examination of the affairs. Defendant was in the office when the telegram arrived and they translated it together. Witness examined the accounts and found that certain amounts had been collected but not He asked defendant for the balance, remitted. agreeing to allow him till 12 o'clock next day to produce the same. Witness went to the office at 12 o'clock the next day, but defendant did not appear, and he eventually saw him in Thomas's grill rooms at two o'clock. On the afternoon of the 21st inst. defendant handed him a letter in which he stated that he was short in his accounts to the extent of $2,572:76; that it was his intention to wire to private, sources in London for the amount, which he was sure to