January 28, 1897 1
REDUC
IN TELEGRAPH RATES SOUTHWARDS.
Read letter from Acting Manager, Joint Companies, d dated 29th December, ming the Chamber of reductions in their to Eastern countries, South Afriós, Aus- alasia, &o
Reply acknowledging receipt of same was sent on the 30th December,
THE "CHINGTU CASE.
It was announced that, under date 5th January, a letter had been addressed to the Government, pointing out the hardships on- tailed on shipowners and masters by the opera- tion of the Vagranoy Ordinance (No. 12 of 1888), as evidenced in the case of the master of the British steamer Chingtu recently heard in the Police Court, and suggesting amendment of the Ordinance.
The Secretary stated that no reply had yet been received.
TRANSIT PASSES IN KWANGSI,
The Colonial Secretary had, under date 14th January, forwarded for the information of the Chamber a copy of a translation of a proclama tion issued by the Kwangsi Lekin Authorities on the subject of transit passes in that province. THE LIGHT DUÈS.
Read letter from Mr. Ritchie, Superintendent of the P. & O. 8. N. Co., on behalf of the Agents and Representations of Companies and firms owning vessels trading to and in the far East, enclosing copy of a petition addressed to HE the Governor against the proposal to ton for per permanently levy a tax of 24 cents Light Dues on vessels calling at this port, and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. important reduction is contemplated on China. rates.
I will, at the first meeting of the Association, lay your letter before the members and ask for further instructions.—I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
W, ADAMSON, Chairman.
Straits Settlements Association.
The Incorporated Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool.
Liverpool, 17th November, 1896. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 8th October handing copy of protest of your Chamber against the action of the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Telegraph Companies, who, according to the terms of your letter and enclosures, have raised their rates to Europe, America, and locally by
considerable percentage.
a
As this Chamber had quite recently received notification from the Postmaster-General that reductions in the rates for telegrams to Japan had been sanctioned, and that reductions in other rates to the Far East were in contem- plation, a letter referring to that notification and giving the substance of your complaint was at once sent to the Postmaster-General, the Great Eastern Extension, and Great Northern Telegraph Companies.
I have pleasure in transmitting to you here- with copy of that letter and of a reply received to-day from the Eastern Extension Co.-I am, yours faithfully,
THOMAS H. Barker,
*Secretary.
of the acknowledgment thereof by the Colonial The Secretary, Hongkong Chamber of Com- Secretary:
Resolved to reply promising to give the petition the cordial support of the Chamber, and to this end it was decided to address a letter on the subject to the Government and send copies of both that and the petition to various Chambers of Commerce in the East, other British Colonies, and in the United Kingdom.
The Chairman read a letter from the Vice- Chairman (who was unable to attend) suggest- ing the above course.
T
!
QUARANTINE.
Letters from the Colonial Secretary, dated 19th December and 14th January respectively, announcing the entire removal of restrictions on vessels arriving in ports of Indo-China from Hongkong and the withdrawal of medical in- spection at Japanese ports of vessels arriving from Formosa, were tabled. These have been already published in local Press.
22
(Correspondence)
TELEGRAPH RATES.
Billiter Avenue, London. E.C.,/19th Nov., 1896. R. C. Chatterton Wilcox Esq., Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. Dear Sir-I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 5th ultimo, hand- ing me a copy of the report of the proceedings at a special general meeting of the members of your Chamber, held on the 19th Sept., to protest against the action of the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Telegraph Companies in having very materially raised their rates from China to Europe and America, and between Hongkong and Shanghai, without notice to their constitutente.
|
-- The general question of telegraph charges to the Far East has been, for some time, a matter of Interest to our Association, and at the recent Congress of Chambers of Commerce I gave all the assistance I could to the scheme for laying a cable across the Pacific to Australia, on the ground that it was a first step to a healthy com- petition with the existing lines.
Since the receipt of your letter I have had a long interview wish Mr. Hesse, the Secretary of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, and I understand from him that there is to bo reduction on the rates, as from the 1st January to the Straits Settlements, and from
July next to China
o not think that the reduction proposed ony which, I understand, will be franc✩per word, will content the but yon may be more fortunate, I am led to believe that a much more
merce.
The Incorporated Chamber of Commerce
of Liverpool,
Liverpool, 12th November, 1896. Dear Sir, The Postmaster-General has in- formed this Chamber that as a result of the Buda Pesth Conference the rate to Japan (via Vladivostook) is about to be reduced from 88. to 68. 2d. per word and that the rate of 10s. 8d. via Hongkong will also be reduced.
On the other hand I hear from the Hong- kong Chamber of Commerce that in September last, following the ratification of a convention between the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Telegraph Companies and the Chi- nese Telegraph Administration, the rates to Europe were raised 37 per cent, to America 43 per cent., and between Hongkong and Shang- hai 100 per cent.
Can you explain for the information of the council of this Chamber the apparent dis- crepancy in these two statements.—I am, etc.,
THOMAS H. BARKER, Secretary.
of collecting the
naturally and Hongkon heavy loss. In
did not collect the tariff to which Was equivalent of about 68. the telegraphing public in have nothing to complain for congratulation, seeing that next, when the tariff between Chins will be reduced from francs 8.50 to franc 7 per word, they will be paying considerabl-
for the transmission than the charge which the Company reasonably levy messages to Europe.
In addition to the reductions of tariff above referred to, the Company is reducing its rates to the Straits Settlements, Java, Cochin-China, and other places, particulars of which will be shortly announced. I am, etc.,
H. HESSE. Manager and Secretary.
The Secretary, the Incorporated Chamber of
Commerce, Liverpool.
Tacoma, Washington.
November 25th, 1896. To the Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber
of Commerce, Hongkong.*.* My dear Sir,-I beg to thank you in behalf of this organization for the copy of a protest against the increase in telegraph rates contained in your esteemed communication of October 8th and to say that if there is anything possible for us to do under the circumstances we shall part. We shall always be be glad to do our, pleased to do anything in our power to promote trade between this section and Hongkong and would be glad at all times to receive any publication issued by your organization bearing on trade relations.
With renewed thanks,-Believe me, yours very sincerely,
SAML. COLLYER,
Secretary,
R.
The Board of Trade of the City of Toronto.
Toronto, November 16th, 1896. C. Wilcox, Esq., Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hong kong, China.
Dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your circular bearing date October 8th, 1896, together with copy of report of the proceedings of the general meeting of your Chamber, and in so doing I am directed by my Council to advise you that this Chamber is on record as doing all in its power to assist in a scheme for laying a cable across the Pacific through British
territory and, as you may have noted Din
Press, Canadian delegates are at present
from other ports of Her Majesty's domains, with the special object of promoting better cable service, and that direct through British territory.-I am, dear sir, yours truly,
The Secretary, the Eastern Extension Austral-London, England, conferring with delegates
asia and China Telegraph Co., London.
The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co.. Limited.
London, 16th November, 1896. Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your favour of the 12th instant and in reply have to inform you that your information as to the reduction of the cable rate between Europe and Japan (via Vladivostock) from 88. to 68. 2d. per word is quite correct. The tariff between Europe and Japan (via Hongkong) will also be reduced from 10s. 8d. to 88. 6d. and both reductions will take effect as and from the 1st July next.
The second paragraph of your letter refers to an entirely different matter. As you are aware, the tariff between Europe and China is fixed at 78. per word, but owing to depreciation of the silver currency the Company, until quite recently, has only been able to collect the equi- valent of about 4s. 68. per word on the home ward traffic, and having to make its outpay ments to the other Telegraph Administrations in gold, it has really had to carry the China homeward traffic for practically nothing. Mes- sages for America were actually transmitted between China and India at a loss during the time the silver currency was at its lowest point of depreciation.
i
Consequently when the Convention which we had for some years been negotiating with the Chinese Telegraph Administration was arranged, establishing as it did the principal recognised by the International Telegraph Con-
EDGAR E. WILLS, Secretary.
The Great Northern Telegraph Co. of Copenhagen. Hongkong Station,
28th December, 1890:
Hong
The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co., Ld.
R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq., Secretary kong General Chamber of Comme Dear Sir, With reference to pr FOOR respondence and particularly, to our 19th August, I have the pleasure to infor Chamber that from the 1st January next the following further reductions in tariffs will come into operation in this region; and from the same date further facilities will be given telegrams, by the establishment of the following reduced press rates.
(Here follows table Taking into conside reductions to the made on the 1st July reductions which and the reduced Press rates,
recognize that
olio have been liberal spirit, as
anua