August 28, 1899.]
Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the disorders prevail. ing in the Kwang province (culminating on the 12th inst in an engagement with the Imperial broops at Cot-Kaw on the West River which ended in the complete defeat of the troops by the rebels) and the consequent derangement of trade on the inland waterways.-I have the honour be, sir, your most obedient servant.
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretory.
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 10th August, 1899. Sir, I beg to hand you herewith a copy of the letter addressed by this Chamber to Mr. Bax-Ironside, Her Britannio Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, on the subject of the in- ternal disorders and lawlessness prevailing in the Kwang provinces and their effect upon trade generally and silk business in particular. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
R. M. GEAT,
Chairman.
To H. B. M.'s Consul, Canton.
TIONS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hongkong, 10th August, 1899.
"Amoy General Chamber
Your Excellency, Referri which this Chamber despa reading
R. C. Wilcox Esq., Secretary,
Hongkong, General Chamber of Commerce. Dear Sir, With reference to the Colonial Secretary's letter (1204) of 25th ulto, to you re the Report signed by four of the five members" ChamberTM Commerce of the Committee appointed by His Excellency against duty Formosa the Governor to enquire into and report on the able Japan, Despatch of data question of the unrestricted influx into this Chairman. Colony of Subsidiary Coins issued by the Can ton Mint, and more particularly to the conclud ing paragraph of the said letter vis in seems "Mr. Whitehead, who was also a member of the Committee, did not sign the Report but his views may be gathered from the en- closed copy of a minute written by him on the original draft Report."
I beg to enclose for the information of the Chamber a copy of my letter of Slat ulto. to the Hon. AM. Thomson, Chairman of the Committee on Question of Subsidiary Coinage together with a copy of his reply. So far I have not received any further communication from the Government on the subject. Yours very truly,
W
T. H. WHITEHEAD,
Hongkong, 31st July, 1899.
Dear Thomson,-In my letter of 15th inst. I said that I desired to be supplied with a mem- THE SUBSIDIARY COINAGE QUES- | subsidiary coins, detailed, of the Canton orandum showing the annual productions of
Mint 1839 to 1898 inclusive. 1 farther asked for copies of the Ordinances and Orders in Council now in force regulating legal tender money in the Colony, and if possible an estimate of the total amount of subsidiary coins now in in circulation in the Colony including Straits. Japanese, and Chinese pieces.
The following correspondence is attached to the minutes of the last monthly meeting of the Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce :---
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 25th July, 1899. Bir-With reference to previous' correspon- dence on the subject of subsidiary coinage, I am directed to transmit to you for the informa- tion of the Chamber of Commerce a copy of a
report by the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into the matter.
Mr. Whitehead, who was also a member of the Committee, did not sign the report, but his view may be gathered from the enclosed copy of a minute written by him on the original draft report. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. H. STEWARt Lockhart, Colonial Secretary, The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, July, 1899. Sir, We have the honour to report for His Excellency's information that we have discussed the question of Subsidiary Coinage and have passed the following resolutions, vix:--
(1). That an ample supply of Hongkong sub- sidiary coin be always kept in the Colony; and (2) that, in view of the fact that Hongkong subsidiary coin is the only legal tender, restric tion or prohibition of the import of subsidiary coin from the Canton Mint is unnecessary, and, in our opinion, impracticable.We have, &c.,
A. M. THOMSON. T. JACKSON. J. THUBBURN. R. M. GRAY.
The Honourable, The Colonial Secretary, &o.,
Minute by Mr. Whitehead.--What is the weigh and fineness of Canton coinage? If in- ferior should any recommendation be made? I agree to the Resolutions but think we should go further.
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
18th July, 1899.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 25th July, 1899. Sir, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of this date, forwarding for the in- formation of this Chamber a copy of the report
Committee appointed by His Excellency Governor to inquire into the question of he subsidiary coinage, and which shall be laid once before my Committee. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obdient servant, -
R. CHATTERTON WILCOL
Secretary.
In your letter in reply you inform me that you had sent these requests on to Government, but that you did not think the answer would affect the report.
So far I have received no answer to the above
applications and I shall be much obliged it you will kindly inform me why no answer has been furnished. I require same to enable me to send in a report.
In a minute date 18th inst. to the draft report you then sent round I wrote "What is the weight and fineness of Canton coinage! If inferior should any recommendation be made? I agree to the Resolution but think we should go further" but so far have received no reply to my queries, and I am at a loss to un- derstand the course of action, which you have elected to follow in the matter. Youre very truly
T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. A. M. Thomson, Chairman, Committee
on Question of Subsidiary Coinage.
Treasury, 1st August, 1899. Dear Whitehead,—I sent on all your requests to Government and will pass on your letter of yesterday as a reminder.
Four members of the Committee having been satisfied that the enquiry was complete, and you having had an opportunity of signing the Report, there was no option but to send it on. -I am, yours very truly,
A. M. THOMSON.
THE FORMOSA TEA TAX, The following correspondence is attached to Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber the minutes of the last monthly meeting of the
of Commerce
I have the honour to bring that the Formosan Governmen its intention of imposing' & 'dul per pioul on tes exported from foreign countries, whilst tea export will be free of duty and may be shipped abroad likewise free of duty.
Amoy General Chamber of Commerce.
Amoy, 25th July, 1899. Sir, I be
enclose copy of a despatch which this Chamber is sending to Sir E. Satow, K.C.M.G., H.B.M's Minister at Tokyo, protesting against a discriminating duty of yen 1.60 per picul on Formosa tea which the Japanese Government intends to impose from the 4th prox. Countries whilst allowing tas to be shipped
on shipments to Foreign, from Formosa to Japan free of duty and thenes exported abroad likewise free of duty.
If your Chamber can endorse the forth, any support that you may be able to them will be much appreciated. ——I am, obedient servant,
J, J. DUNNE,
Hon. I. H. Stewart Lookhart, C.M.G., Colonial The Secretary, Hongkong Chamber of Com-
The object of this proposed duty is to favour the line of steamers running between and Japan and to divert the
possible from the present chan and Hongkong by placing a disor duty of yen 1.60 per pionl on it.
This would not seem to bè în the new Treaties, which, quire that Japan and her pos have the same: tariff a
with
should
The consumption of Formosa toa i and China is absolutely nil, such landed in Japan, a China port, or are in transit for the United States Britain, the Continent of Europe, or the Dutch Colonies. The route mosa via Japan might favour the by the Pacific, but as regards the the shipments, that is, those via United States, Great Britain, and ent of Europe, and those to Australia and the Dutch Colonies, it is out of the question to send such to Japan. The proposed duty would therefore discriminate in favour of one rente to one country, and against all other routes and countries:
It is argued that the Japanese Government only asserts its right the tariff betre
Formosa and Amoy (the latter being bot port) in accordance with ag
agreements betw Japan and China. This argument disré the fact as shown above, that the tém come to Amoy for consumption, but in tran to foreign countries.
Our merchants claim that they to clear their teas at the Formosa the United States, Europe, &c., any other route, paying duty accord Japan tariff applicable to such count destination, and it is in the hope support this view that this Chamber assistance in combatting in good time ability which may be impending to the of a merchant to ship by whichever route may please. I have the honour to be, your Excellency's most obedient servant,
Francis Cass, Chairman. Sir Ernest M. Satow, K.C.M.G., HB.M'. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- potentiary, Tokio.
Hongkong-General Chamber of Commer
to
Hongkong, 5th August, 1899, Sir,--The attention of this Chamber has been drawn by the Amoy Chamber of Comme notification issued by the Government Formosa announcing the imposition of yen 1.60 per picul on tes exp Formosa to foreign countries, whilst can be shipped thence to forel exported to Japan is exempted
imposta. This of course amoun tion of a discriminating duty, ape to divert the tes trade of Formo onstomed channels and to compel It in the Japanese subsidised, instead of, as at present, vik: kong. As the vast bulk of way of the Sues Canal to the Great Britain, and the Continent
them við Japan. it would be obviously most ine
The imposition,
Becretary.
ros, Hongkong