January 27, 1900.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
A the monthly meeting of the Goue al Committee of the Hongkong Gen nal Cham- be of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on the 15th January-Present: Me srs. R. M. Gay (Chur man), A. McConachie (Vie-Chairman), A. Haup, H. A. Ritchie, N. A. Ribs Herbert Sm th, Hon. T. H. Whiteh ad, and R. C. Wil ox (Secr try).-
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous m eting (held 14th December) w re read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS,
The following had been admitted 10 member- Rhip since the previous meeting Dec. 29, 1899-Dr. Jordan. Jan. 3, 1900-The
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eutsche Asiatische Bauk. -The Imperisi Bank of China. Messrs. Hotz, s'Jacob & Co. -Messrs. H. Price & Co. THE DANGEROUS GOODS AMENDMENT BILL. Following up the decision taken at last meet. ing, a letter was, on the 16th December. ad- dressed to the Government stating that it was the unanimous opinion of the Committed that the articles mentioned by the firms interested in the Arms Trade as not having hitherto been classed as dangerous should still be excluded from that category, and that they hoped the Gorerament wou'd take the same view.
A ropy had been received from the Colonia! Secretary stating that the Government were prepared to make certain amendments in the Bill in the direction indicated.
THE CONSERVANCY OF THE WOOSUNG RIVER. Read letter from Colonial Seerstary, dated 10th Dec., enclosing copy of despatch from the Secretary of State for the colouies, together with copies of correspondence on the above subject, and expressing a wish to receive any information the Chamber could supply as to the effect of the present state of the river on the trade of Hongkong.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG AND CANADIAN PREFERENTIAL
DUTI18.
63
16-Cable Communication: Construction, Rates, Codes,
Read letter from the Agent of the Canadian Pacific Co., dated 15th Dec., calling attentión to the fact that exports from Hongkong are entitled, under the British Preferential Tariff, to participate iu the a vantages of that Tariff, but that the Minister of Customs had not in-cils, Home and Coloniat. cinded this Colony in the list of British. l'os. sessions to which it should be applied. and expressing the hope the subject might be deemed of sufficient importance to receive in- vestigation by the Chamber.
17-Steamship Communication. Rates, Sub- sidies, War Risks, Inan ance
18-Close Conzection between Governments and Chambers of Commerce by establishment of ommercial Advisory or Conanltative Coun-
Resolved to address the Government on the subject, and ask that it be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State.
NEW CUSTOMS TARIFF AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
Read letters from the Colonial Secrotary, dated th January, transmitting for the information of the Chumber e 'py of a despatch from H B M's Consul at Manila covering copy of the new U.S. Provisional Customs Tariff and Regula tions in the Philippines issued on 3rd Oct. 1899. together with copy of goueral orders notifying which are the sub-ports of eutr The l'ansu' had compared the new Regulatious with those previously issued and gave tue resnit of his comparison. The matter was referred to the firms interested in the Manila trade for
consideration and report.
19—Supply of Government publications to Chambers of Commerce and Mutual Interchange of Documents.
20- Representation of United Kingdom in Colonies and in other parts of the Empire for the promotion of mucnal trade.
3-Appointment of au imperial Council to consider commercial questions of Imperial interest.
22-Copyright
23-Municipal. Trading. 24-Sugar Bonuties.
25- Defences of the Empire.
And the organising Committee is willing to political subject which the Chamber and the receive resolutions on any economic and non- organising Committee consider suitable for
discussion.
THE FRIARS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THE QUESTION COMES TO AN 188UE.
PROMPT WORDS FROM THE GOVERNOR,
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Mavila, 19th January, The religious controversy is the question of the hour, over shadowing the struggling insur- rection and even the plague and the exasperat ing custom-house. Nothing has so stirred Mauila for months as the present growing ex- citement over the suggested rainstatement of the friars in the provincial parishes.
THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL
MUSEUM AND THE CHAMBER. Read two letters from the director of the Philadelphia Museum, dated respectively the 27th and 29th Nov.. stating that in pursuance of the action of the Chamber is accepting membership on the Luternational Advisory Board f the Musenta, they had pleasure in forwarding two diplomas of membership, one iu name of the amber ni nei, tit of the Specetary, and wonid send a third ou being advised of name of the Chairtonu The second lefter suggested the admiss on of the Museum to honorary or
The trouble first came to public notice a few dags ago with the publication of an alleged corresponding membership of the Chamber in Decided to
interview given by the Archbishop Chappell. write in reply to above that order to make the relation reciprocal though the obstructions to navigation in the
and telegraphed by the correspondent of a After sotho discussion.
which during Woosung River did not directly affect Hong. | it
ascertained that Was
Mad id newspaper. The interview was obtain. tbe Committee
ed second-hand through two Dominicans, and kong, the Chamber regarded tue proposal with had no power, under the bye-laws. to elect the fullest sympathy, and would hai with satis-honorary members it was. on the motion of
at best, it can only be said to embody the im- faction any steps taken to improve river ap- the Cuirmin, seconded by Mr. Whitehead. pressions of the holy men, gathered in conversa. proaches to Shanghai.
decided to write to the Director of the Museumtion with the archbishop. At any rate the
aud say that the Chamber had decided to place them on the list of correspondeuts, and to supply them with the anuual report.
THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION
BILL.
AMENDMENT
A letter having, on the 19th December, been received signed by eleven firms interested in the Arms Trade, drawing the attention of the Chamber to the provisions of the above Bill. which they considered would hire an adverse effect on the trade and serve it, to divert to Macao. if carried into effect.
Correspondence was opened with the Govern- ment on the subject. and the further progress of the measure in Council was postponed, in order that the suggestions made by the firms and the Chamber may be considered.
The Chairman, after reading the last letter sent in by the Committee, expressed the hope that the Government would give it most favour- able consideration.
CABLE RATES BETWEEN THE FAR EAST
AND EUROPE.
The Secretary reported that replies, in ac knowledgement of receipt of Chamber's circular letter of 6th October, bad been received from--- The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, dated 10th November.
The Toronto Board of Trade, dated 14th November.
The Seattle Chamber of Commerce, dated, 24th November.
A letter was also received, on the 8th January, from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, dated 19th December, handing copy of a despatch addressed by that Chamber to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on this question.
Read letter from the London Manager of the Eastero Extension Telegraph Co.,"dated 23rd Nov., acknowledging receipt of Chamber's letter and resolutions of the 6th Oct.. and stating that a proposal had been made to H.M's Government by his Company several months previous for the general lowering of their tariffs, but that up to date of writing no reply had been received.
It was decided to reply asking for copy of the letter in which these proposals were made.
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FOURTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE OF THE EMPIKE.
Read letter received 2nd January, from the Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the above Congress desiring to know whether this Chamber wished to submit any resolutions on he particular subjects mentioned in his letter of 7th July last.
Hou T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to move that the individual members of the Chamber be asked to send in before the 31st inst. any suggestions they may have as to the resolutions which might usefully be brought by their delegates before the Congress, such papers to becirculated to membe s of the Committee, and if necessary, a special meating of the Committee to be afterwards held to consider same.
The CHAIRMAN seconded. Carried nuanimously.
The following is the list of subjects mentioned in the letter above referred to:-
1-Commercial Relations between the Mother Country and her Colonies and Dependencies.
2-Later Colonial Trade Re ations. 3-Foreign and Colomal Bounties. 4-Foreign Competition. 5-Boards of Labour Conciliation and Ar- bitration.
6-Codification of the Commercial Law of the
Empire.
7-Bills of Exchange: uniform procedure. 8-Bills of Lading Reform. 9-Commercial Education.
sayings of happell thus indirectly reported, leaked out through the columns of an energ-tio Manila paper, and the otherwise peaceful Filipinos mmediately proceeded to work them- selves up into a state of high excitement; for the report was decidedly favorable to the friars aud the more discerning ones saw as plain as day, the beginning of a movement to arm the hated friars with all the old privileges and autorities enjoyed during the days of Spanish rule.
After the publication of the article, a very short time clapsed before the archbishop was presented with a petition sigued by forty-three of the principal professional and business men of the Santa Cruz district of Manila. A de-
legation waited on General Otis and presented him with a copy of the petition, which set forth their grievances and called attention to the unfortunate and unbearablu circumstances that would arise in the event of the return of friars to the parishes or vicarages. The Spanish papers were quick to take up the discussion and vigorous expression and strong feeling were and are everywhere apparent.
Other parishes and districts took up the subject and many resolutions and petitions followed in quick succession. The highest and best Spaniards and Filipinos throughout the whole city and in Cavite and San Roque became interested and before anyone realized it a re- gular religious typhoon was browing. Finally Sr. Torres the attorney-general, visited the militar governor and asked for some expression from him to meet the emergency.
Torres represents all that is best among the Filipinos and such a request from him is au indication of
10-The Decimal system of Weights, Mea- the extent to which the city has been moved. sures, and Currency.
-Light Dues. 12-Railways; Light Railways; Railway
''ommanica'ion with India and the East.
13--ecret Commissions.
14-Arbitration for International Disputes. 15-Imperial Trade Marks Registration and
Patent Law.
General Otis replied as follows that there was no necessity for the Filipinos to fear that friars will again be forced upon them against their wishes and that if the Church authorities assign friars to curacies and these assignments are obnoxious to the people they will not be com- polled to accept them. Continuing he assured everyone of the fullest enjoyment of all consti- -·