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August 25, 1902.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
choked drain-pipes on priva ́e property had been | Governor cleansed.
THE DEATH RATE.
It was reported that the death-rate for the week ended 2nd August was 250 per 1,000 of the population per annum as against 28.4 in the previons week and 35.6 in the corresponding week of the previous year.
LIME-WASHING RETURNS.
The lime-washing returns for the fort night ended 16th August showed that 285 houses in the Eastern District had been treated.
RAT-CATCHING.
A return was laid on the table showing that during the week ended 18th August 452 rats had been caught in Victoria and Kowloon. Of these, 28 were found to be infected.
This was all the business.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held in the
Chamber Room, City Hall, on Tuesday, 12th Aug., 1902, at 4 p.m., present-Hon. C. §. Sharp (Chairman), Mr. W. Poate (Vice- Chairman), Hon. C. W. Dickson, Messrs. A. Haupt, E. A. Hewett, N. A. Siebs, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tomkins, Hon. R. Shewan (ex-officio), and A. R. Lowe (Secretary),
MINUTES.
The minutes of the monthly meeting of the 3th ultimo and of the special meeting of the
22nd ultimo were read and confirmed.
STORM-WARNINGS.
Read letter from Colonial Secretary dated 31st ultimo, enclosing report from the Acting Director of the Kowloon Observatory, in reply to the Chamber's letter of 4th ultimo.
A letter was also read, which had been addressed to the Chamber by eight mastors of China coast steamers, from Swatow on 4th instant, complaining of the inadequate storm- warnings issued by the Kowloon Observatory.
Some discussion followed and it wis decided to address the Government again in the matter PROPOSED LICENSING OF PILOT8.
Read letter from the Colonial Secretary of 16th ult. stating that the Officer Administering the Government bad bad nuder cousideration the report, forwarded by the the Chamber on 18th June last, on this subject, but that he cannot see his way to adopt the suggestion of the Chamber, as he considers it would place the Harbour Master or other Government officer in an entirely false position if he had to give certificates for qualifications which such officer cannot test.
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would shortly he passing through the Colony, and if he would consent to matter it would give a favonrable opportunity receive a deputation from the Chamber on this for representing the case.
NEW CHINESE EMIGRATION ORDINANCE. In reply to the Chamber's letter of 21st. ult. to the Government suggesting that the deten- might be reduced from 48 to 24 hours and tion of the emigrants in the boarding honses stating that the Chamber did not support the boarding hense keepers retition in other
respects, a letter was read from the Co'onial Officer Administering the Government could not Secretary stating that His Excellency the
approve of an amendment to the Ordinance as suggested, and pointed out that the petitioners had intimated that they now had no desire in the Ordinance. have curtailed the period of 48 hours laid, down
ATTEMIT TO IMPOSE LEKIN AND YATTERY TAX ON YARNS IMPORTED INTO CANTON BY BRITISH STEAMERS.
the last meeting, a letter was addressed to H. B. M. Consul General at Canton asking for information on this subject. His reply, dated 14th alt.. was read stating that recently the lekin authorities bad issued a proclamation claiming, within the Treaty Port area, lekin on cottou yarn imported by steamers in the hands of traders after passing the Maritime Customs, 2s had hitherto been done when brought into Canton by junk and passing through the Hoppo's office. It was explained to the Viceroy that the nationality of the importer was immaterial and a request was made to the Viceroy for the withdrawal of the proclamation and issue of one clearly setting forth the rights of importers under the Treaty.
In accordance with the decision rome to af
A letter was head dated 11th inst. addressed to H. B. M. Consul-General pointing out the nusatisfactory state of affairs disclosed by his letter and asking whether the position of matters still remained the same as disclosed by
his letter.
The CHAIRMAN said that he had heard that the Viceroy had since given way, but so far no official confirmation was to hand.
INCREASE OF DUTIES LEVIID ON OPIUM AT CANTON. Information having reached the Committee that an increased tax of $200 on foreign opium had been fixed to commence on 1st inst.. a letter w:s addressed to H B.M. Consul-General at
Canton asking for confirmation. His reply was 1ead, dated 6th instant, stating that arrauge. nents had been made and an office opened with the In the discussion which followed it was sanction of the Chinese authorities to collect the pointed out that other ports on the China coast new tax of Tis, 115.20 in addition to duty Tls. were able to control the pilots, and it was even-3 and lekin s. 80 per chest. It was stated. tally agreed to refer the Government's reply to the sub-committee, Messrs. E. A. Hewitt. A. Haupt, and W. Poate, who originally drew up the report of the Ch-mber on the subject.
CHINESE STOWAWAYS TO PHILIPPINES. The following letter was read :---
however, that so far no collection had taken place through lack of imports, but that 20 chests arriving had been returned to Hougkong unlanded, as it was feared the new duty would be imposed.
I was unanimously agreed, after some dis cussion, to bring again this serious state of maffers to the attention of H.B.M's Minister at Peking.
Colonial Secretary's Office, 1st August, 1962. Sir, I am directed to acquaint you for the information of the Chamber of Commerce that
IMPERIAL CABLE COMMUNICATION. after careful consideration of your letter of the A leter was read from the London Chamber 18th ultimo, with its enclosures, the Cfficer of Commerce, dated 28th May last, bringing to Administering the Government regrets that he does not see his way to adapt the suggestions to increase the heavy penalties already imposed by law on stowaways and those who aid and abet
them.
2. His Excellency is, however, addressing the authorities in Manila, to ask them to adopt measures by which may be avoided the heavy penalties imposed on British ships upon which stowaways are found after every reasonable effort had been made to prevent the shipping of such stowaways, or in which Chinese found at large in Manila allege that they have been imported.-I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
The SECRETARY,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
the notice of the Chamber the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee formed to con sider the resolutions passed at the Fourth Congress of Chamber of Commerce of the Empire in June, 1900.
of the Inter-Departmental Committee express- It was decided to reply, in view of the report ing the opinion that they are not prepared to say that, with the exception of those to the Gold Coast and Nigeria, existing rates are excessive, it is useless to continue the discussion for the present, but in view of the fact that the rates between India and Great Britain, and Fetween the Straits Settlements and Great Britain, had been reduced after the Inter- departmental expression of opinion. the Committee would press for a reduction of the Hongkong rates again shortly.
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and that specially in view of the reference by the Inter-Department Committee to the ques- matters should be terminated at the earliest tion of granting landing rights this state of possible op; ortunity.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
inst., after the addition of ten fatal Chinese cases The year's plague figures at noon on the 23rd in the past fi e days, stood at h55 cạses (6 deaths (4 Europeans, 524 Chinese. 15 other Europeans, 520 Chinese; 19 oʻher Asiatics), 548 Asiatics).
The previons week's figures for communicable diseases in the Colony were:--Plague, 12 cases (Chinese), with 19 deaths; enteric fever, I Chinese, with 12 deaths; cholers, 21 cases European case; puerperal fever, 1 Chinese case.
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MISHAP ON THE PEAK TRAMWAY.
A mishap occtured on the 20th inst. on the terrupting the servico for several hours. Peak Tramway, which had the effect of in- As the
7 40 fram was on the way up the incline it failed to make the turn to the right at the crossing and kept on the straight line down which the other car was coming, thereby making a collision catastrophe was prevented, and in a manner possible, if net imminent. Happily such a that says a great deal for the efficiency of the service. The cause of the mishap was as follows. When the upgoing car approached the crossing line to the right, the signals were in his favour, at which the driver directs his ear on to the Icop. denoting that the points were in the usual
Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong. The CHAIRMAN said pending the result of ing to agreement for landing rights granted by It was also decided to point out that accord- the Government's negotiations with the autho- the Hongkong Government to the Cable ities in Manila, nothing further could be Companies, the public were practically delivered Cone. Information, however, had reached the over to these Companies in the matter of Committee from the Colonial Secretary that charges for messages to or from this Colony,
position to perm t of the car going on to the loopline. Accordingly the car was sent ahead but at the last moment the pointsman who is thereby causing the car to go straight ahead on stationed at the crossing changed the points,
the truck upon which the other car was des- cending. Fortunately this serious mistake on by no serious consequences, thanks to the the part of the Chinese pointsman was attended
promptness of the brai esmeu. As soon as the brakesman of the ascending car found that he bad not caught the points but was on the straight track, he shut down his 1 rake and cameto an instantaneous standstill, signalling meanwhile that there was something wrong. In the me manner, the Irakesman of the down-coming car shut down his brake and so averted a collision. When the ascending car was diverted from her proper course, the cable was dragged out of its groove and three pulleys were da- maged. The repairing of these, with the shift- ing back of the car which had gone on
the wrong track, had the effect of stopping the service until half-past twelve o'clock, at which time the cars re-commenced running. A werd of praise is deserved by the brakesmen, but for whese presence of mind and promptners of action a serious collision might have resulted. Naturally, the occurrence caused some excite- ment among the passengers. It is not known what made the pointsman alter the points and. so send the car on to the wrong lin. He was an old
servant of the Compary and was thoroughly conversant with his work. Ap- parently his action was due to excitement or an aberration of mind. At any rate he seemed to realise the culpability that he had laid himself under, for be vanished and has not since been
heard of.
H.E. Chou Fu, who was Provincial Treasurer of (hibli, and an assistaut of the late Marquis Li Hung-chang during the peace negotiations with the Powers in Peking, arrived in Chinan, the capital of Shantung province, from Paoting on the 8th inst., and took over his seals of cffce cn Saturday, the 9th instant, from Governor Chang Jen-chun, who is transferred to Shansi.
A telegram dated Berlin, 9th August, says :— It is absolutely certain that Siam will not be supported by any European Power against France, as far as the latter cen clam treaty rights. All Powers, including Great Britain, will remain central." Much depends on what neutrality means bere. It does not, we presume, imply that France is to make her own interpretation of treaty rights.
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