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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Chamber of Commerce might decide which of the alternatives is preferable.
The PRESIDENT then read his amendments and after some conversation respecting the last two paragraphs of the amendment,
[August 26, 1897. -
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on the 13th August, -Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray (Chairman), Her- bert Smith (Vice-Chairman), Hon. J. J. Bell. Irving, Messrs. T. Jackson, St. C. Michaelsen, N. A. Siebs, T. H. Whitehead, and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
NEW TREATY PORTS IN KOREA.
Read letter from Government, dated 10th ult., announcing receipt of a telegram from Peking to the effect that the Korean Government had officially notified H. B. M's Minister that the ports of Chenanpo and Mokpo will be open to foreign trade from the 1st October next.
Acknowledged on 13th alt, and copies sent to. local Press.
therefore beg to more:-(1) That the Board beg to recommend the Government to become a party to the Venice Convention of 1897 in compliance with the advice contained in the letter of the Secretary of State for the colonies." (2) "That the Board are of opinion The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE that the scheme of medical surveillance of all said-I beg to second your amendment, and in persons landing in this colony from any port doing so I would say that I do not think any which has been proclaimed infected in accord. necessity has been shown for any such radical ance with Quarantine Regulation No. 1, and change in the medical inspection of vessels the provision of guarantees by all such persons arriving in the port as has been suggested in as are of Asintio or African nationality, is a the original resolution. The great point about practicablo one and beg to recommend its the practice at home is undoubtedly the adoption by, the Government in the manner surveillance, which of course presents an enor suggested by the Medical Officer of Health." mons difficulty here, and Dr. Clark has sug. The ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS gested that it might be got over by a system -These subjects are closely allied, no doubt, of guaraules. In the first place, as yon have because without medical inspection of vessels pointed out, the enormous number of passen- it would be impossible for this colony to sub-gers arriving in this colony renders the put- scribe to the convention and to become ting into effect of that system of guarantee one members of the convention. Therefore the of great difficulty. I do not believo that it one holds very largely on the other, and could be successfully coped with myself, but in I must say that it appears to me there any case I think it has escaped Dr. Clark's at- would be very considerable difficulties at- tention that the guarantee system could be A letter having been received (16th July) from tending it in the matter of expense, because very easily avoided. It could be put into effect Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co., announcing I do not think myself that a staff of three only against nu infected port. Take the port the formation of a syndicate, under official medical officers could possibly look after the of Swatow, against which we issued a proclam sanction, to farm the lekin on kerosine and whole of the work. I think that with the longation only this year. The coolies went from matches in Kwangsi, the Chamber addressed a hours during which ships arrive and the climate there to Canton, transhipped, and came on hero letter to the British Consul at Canton on the that we have here during a considerable portion by the Canton stermer and laughed up their subject, and on the 27th July received a des of the year, it would be physically impossible sleeves at the Hongkong Government. If you patch stating that the syndicate in question for these men to perform their duties through enforced the guarantee system against Swatow had been instructed to suspend operations. these long hours. However, I think it is our they would do the same thing and escape(Copies of the correspondence already published duty as the sanitary authority of this colony to Therefore I do not think the system would in local Press). do all in our power to take every step we can work and I beg to second the amendment. I towards preventing the outbreak of any serious think, with some slight matters which you have disease, and therefore I beg to second the mo. suggested, that the existing system of medical tions proposed by the Medical Officer of Health. inspection is good enough for Hongkong for
The PRESIDENT-I think you are mistaken in understanding that the convention refers to the medical inspection of all shipping. The convention deals with only one disease, namely, plague, and it only refers to cases arriving from ports in Europe.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-The convention already applies to the Straits Set- tlements and I think that would not be the case if it only applied to European ports.
After some conversation respecting the reso- lutions the PRESIDENT said-With reference to the inspection of shipping it is the duty of the captain of any vessel to proceed to the quarau- tine anchorage---
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-It cannot be proved that he has a knowledge of in-
fectious diseases.
The PRESIDENT-Therefore I do not think it is any good recommending action by the Government that cannot be followed out. It is of no use recommending the Government to carry out the recommenda- tions of the Venice conference because there is no quarantine station here where we can keep 500 or 600 people for ten days under observation. The alternative system of sur- veillance is, I think, an impracticable one, and I move as an amendment-"That a letter be addressed to the Colonial Secretary advising that (a) the medical inspection of the shipping in this colony be carried on as at pre- sent, but that to bring the practice here more into accord with that at home that Part 2 of the Regulations issued by the Local Govern- ment Board be incorporated, as far as practic- able, into the present Quarantine Regulations, an officer of Police or of the Harbour Depart- ment being substituted for an officer of Cus- toms. (b). To prevent any unnecessary delay -in the signing of bills of health, examination of emigrants to America and Singapore, Dr. Jordan's assistant be appointed Deputy Health Officer during such time he is his assistant. (c) The next incumbent of the post of the Health Officer of the Port to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the post." The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I am content with that if you say that every vessel entering the harbour shall be boarded by some- -body and a declaration given by an officer before the ship communicates with the shore. That is done at home and it works very satisfactorily.
The PRESIDENT-If you agree to this amend- mant, Dr. Clark, will you withdraw your original motion? I am quite willing for the minutes and the whole of the correspondence to be for- warded to the Government.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I would sooner the Government gave its decision.
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some time to come.
The amendment was then put. The Presi- dent and the Captain of Superintendent of Police voted for it and the Acting Director of Public Works and the Medical Officer of Health voted against it. The President gare his casting vote in favour of the amendment, which was therefore carried.
The PRESIDENT-With reference to the Venice Convention I think it was understood that probably some of the colonies might not adhere to it. because in the Secretary of State's letter he said Her Majesty's C.. men! had agreed that the convention shall, after ratification, apply at oure to India and the
Straits Settlements, but not to any other British colony or possession, unless its adhesion
ERECTION OF A LEKIN FARM IN KWANGSI.
Read letter from Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co., dated 29th July, thanking the Coin- mittee for their prompt action in the matter. Letter was acknowledged same day.
THE EASTERN MAIL SUBSIDY,
Read some correspondence in reference to certain information required by the Sub-Com. mittee on which to base an opinion asked for by the Government and which the Postmaster- General had undertaken to apply for at the General Post Office. From the reply of the latter, copy of which had been forwarded to the Chamber, it appeared that there had been some misconception of what was required, which suspicion was confirmed later on by receipt of a copy of the Postmaster-General's letter to General Post Office.
Resolved to write again to Mr. Thomson
asking him to be good enough to make another application for the desired information and mention that it was required for the Chamber of Commerce.
ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF TRADE MARK,
is notified to the Italian Government within a year from the date of ratification. The Govern- ment hoped, however, that the colonies generally would adhere to the convention. As the local
The Government having, under date 29th conditions are such that it is impracticable for July, forwarded copy of a letter from blessrs. a system of surveillance to be carried on I Marsland, Son & Co., of Manchester, to the propose "That a letter be addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, complain. Colonial Secretary advising the Government ing of the imitation of one of their trade marks that this colony cannot adhere in its entirety by Belgian manufacturers and consequent loss with the convention as there is no quarantine of market in Hongkong for their goods, at the stafion here where passengers and crews of
same time suggesting that some system of re- infected ships cau be kept under observation,'gistration might be formed which could be and that the alternative surveillance is adopted to cover Great Britain and all her impracticable her owing to local conditions
Colonies. and the great numilers of the coolie traffic."
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE I beg to second.
Only the mover and seconder voted for the motion, which was carried by the casting vote of the President.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
For the week, ended 31st July the death rate was 23.8 per 1,000 per annum, as against 17 for the corresponding period of last year; for the week ended 7th August the rate was 17.4, August the rate was 25.1, as against 1.78. as against 21.5, and for the week ended 14th
ADJOURNMENT
The Board then adjourned until Thursday week.
A few days ago we (Mercury) stated that an enquiry into the cause of the death of the son of Mr. J. Chambers had to come before the German Consul-General. We now learn that the German Court is about to take steps, and the other powder which remained has been sent to Hongkong by the German Consul-General for analysis, and probably the body of the child will have to be exhuured. The enquiry there- fore at the German Court has been postponed indefinitely,
A reply was sent on 5th August, pointing out that the complaint was very vague, and that there is already a registration of trade marks in this Colony.
OPPICIAL RECOGNITION OF BRITISH FIRMS
AT NEW TREATY PORTS.
Read letter (dated 7th August) from Messrs. A. S. Watson & Co. enclosing copy of one from British Consular Agent at Shashih stating that he did not feel authorised to insist upon the re- cognition of their business (established thero nearly 15 years ago and under Chinese Manage. ment) as a British firm without further in- formation. Messrs. A. S. Watson & Co. applied for the advice of the Chamber in the matter.
Decided to reply advising Messrs. Watson & Co. to apply to the Consul General at Shanghai for full information as to their rights and posi- tion, or, if they prefer it, to offer to write for them.
THE DANGEROUS COAST OF SOCOTRA. Hon. H. Whitehead moved the following resolution:-"That in view of the admittedly grave danger to human life and peril to ship- ping from Socotra, an island under the control of the Aden Political Agency and situated in one of the chief trade routes of the world, the great maritime highway between Europe and
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