October 24, 1903.J
decided to appoint a Sub-Committee composed of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Hon. C.W. Dickson to report as to whether it would be advisable or not to bring in legislation to deal with the sugar trade of this Colony.
THE SALT TRADE OF THE COLONY.
series of questions, relating to the salt trade and consumption in the Colony, asked by Chev. Z. Volpicelli on behalf of the Austrian Government, was laid on the table, and it was decided, on the suggestion of the Chairman, to leave him to discuss the matter with the applicant.
EXPLOSIVES ON BOARD STEAMELS IN THE HARBOUR.
The following correspondence was read:-
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 16th September. SIR, I have the honour to bring to your notice, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the obligation to fly the red flag and to lie in the dangerous goods anchorage by every steamer arriving at this port with ammunition on board in quantities however small, has recently been under consideration by the Committee of this Chamber with particular reference to the decision of the Magistrate of the Police Court in the case of the 8.8. Nordkyn, whose master was fined $50 on the 3rd instant for failing to comply with the regulations in this respect whilst having two cases of sporting cartridges on board.
It may be known to the Government that practically every coasting steamer trading in Chinese waters carries certain quantities of ammunition in the shape of cartridges for protection against piracy, and apparently the masters are liable under the Ordinance for infringing the red fidg rule.
It is suggested that the maximum quantity allowed as cargo loading and discharging with out their incurring the formalities required under the existing regalations might be placed at one hundred ponus of gunpowder or fixed ammunition to a quantity not exceeding twenty thousand rounds, so that the aggregate powder charges do not exceed one hundred pounds.
Such small quantities may, in the opinion of my Committee, be handled without any serious risk either at the wharves or amongst the general shipping in the stream, and I am instructed to enquire whether His Excellency can see his way to authorise the introduction of an amending ordinance containing such clauses as will meet the views of the shipping interest in this direction.-I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Colonial Secretary.
(Sd.) A. R. LOWE. Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office.
Hongkong, 22nd September. SIR,-I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant regard- fng the conditions apder which a vessel with ammunition on board may enter this barbour, and to inform you that the Government sees no sufficient reason for altering the law in the manner suggested by the Chamber.-I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,
The Secretary,
(Sd.) F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce.
After some discussion, it was decided to write again to the Government, drawing its attention to the fact that similar regulations to those suggested with regard to minimum -quantities of ammonition cargo carried by steamers were in force in the Treaty Ports of China, and might with advantage be introduced in Hongkong, and also to point out that it is rather difficult to combat the reasons of the Government as these had not been expressed, and to suggest that the alterations which the Chamber of Commerce desired might be effected by Regulations made by the Governor in Council, and that an Ordinance would pro- bably not be necessary.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. any further particulars on the same subject which may be forthcoming.
The SECRETARY reported that the Chamber's letter of the 21st August was acknowledged by the Tientsin Chamber on the 15th ult. stating that the altered Memorial received from Shanghai had been approved, and that copies of the Memorial had been forwarded to all the Ministers at Peking, also that a letter had since been sent to the Tientsin Chamber asking for a complete copy of the petition containing the names of the signatories and addresses.
A letter dated 29th ultimo from the Colonial Secretary was read enclosing a copy of a despatch from Mr. Chamberlain to H.E. the Governor referring to the resolution agreed to at a recent meeting of the delegates from the United States, China, Mexico, and Great Britain regarding the monetary systems of silver-using countries and the establishment of a national currency in the Chinese Empire. The Secretary of State expressed the opinion that it seemed to be out of the question to entertain the idea of adopting a gold standard for Hongkong while China remained a silver standard country, and he did not therefore consider that it would be expedient to appiont a commission to inquire into the subject.
The CHAIRMAN said that the correspondence had since been published by the Government and that, under the circumstances, nothing could very well be done until it was known what attitude the Chinese Government intended to take up with regard to the resolutions passed by the Delegates at the Monetary Conference, and the opinions expressed in the joint memorial from the Chambers of Commerce of Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hongkong, a copy of which would doubtless be forwarded by the Diplomatic Body at Peking, to whom it was addressed.
IMBECIIN EMigrants ORDINANCE, 1903. Mr. POLLOCK drew the attention of the Committee to the provisions of the new Bill now before the Legislative Council, and pointed out that section I, reading as follows:- 14 The owner, charterer, agent, consignee and master of every ship which brings into the Colony any passeuger not domiciled in the Colony who at the time of his landing is either lunatic, idiotic or imbecile, deaf, dumb, bliad or infirm, or becomes so within a period of six months from the date of landing, and who becomes a charge upon the public or upon any public institution, shall be held liable to repay to the Government of the Colony all costs and charges incurred by Colony on behalf of such passenger" pressed very unjustly on owners, charterers, agents, consignees and masters of ships who became liable to repay the cost to the colony of the expenses of passengers until same died or were deported, or who within 6 months after landing became idiotic, deaf or even infirm. He thought such expenses should be a charge on the Colony and not on the ships. It was decided to protest against the introduction of the measure.
the
CHINO-JAPANESE COMMERCIAL
TREATY.
According to the Jiji the provisions of the new treaty are substantially as follows:-
Art. I. Questions relating to Customs duties, supplementary Castoms obarges, the lekin tax and consumption tax, shall be determined in the same way as the treaties with other Powers.
Art. II-Japan shall have the right of navi- from interference on the part of the Chinese. gation between Ichang and Chungking, fres
Art. III-Japanese vessols shall be entitled to enter any port in addition to the treaty ports, provided the fact be notified to the Customs.
Art. IV. The regulations with regard to all enterprises carried out in co-operation between Japanese and Chinese shall be the same as those contained in the Anglo-Chinese treaty.
publications or the registration of trade-marka Art. V.--The grant of copyright to Chinese
Japanese origin shall not be permitted, nor on Chinese products falsely purporting to be of shall copyright be granted to any objectionable publication, whether Japanese or Chinese.
Art. VI. This provision relates to the Chinese currency, and is the same as that in the Anglo-
Chinese treaty.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION, Read letter from the Singapore Chamber dated 21st ultimo, expressing the thanks of that Chamber for the information furnished as to
Art. VII. This provision relates to a uni- the action of the Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hong-form system of weights and measures in China, kong Chambers with regard to the Memorial to the Diplomatic Body at Peking, and asking for Regulations shall be revised.
Art. VIII. The present Inland Navigation
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Art. IX. This provision relates to the "most favoured nation clause.
trade after the withdrawal of the foreign Art. X-Peking shall be opened to foreign Legation guards at that p'ace; Changsha in Hun'a within six months after the exchange of ratitestions of this treaty, and Makden and Tatungkou after the exch nge of ratifications.
Art. XI-This provision relates to the provision dealing with the abolition of extra- revision of the existing Chinese Codes, The
territoriality after the revision of the Codes, is the same as that contained in the Anglo- Chinese treaty.
Art. XII. This treaty shall be made in triplicate, Japanese, English, and Chinese, the English copy to rule should dispute arise on a question of interpretation.
Art. XIII.-The exchange of ratifications of this treaty shall take place at Peking within six months after the treaty shall have been signed.
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
THE DEADLOCK IN NEGOTIATIONS, Faller information with reference to the Russia, telegraphically reported by our Kobs deadlock in the negotiations between Japan and correspondent on the 8th inst., is contained in the Japan papers which arrived by the last mail. From the Kobe Chronicle we learn that the Tokyo correspond-nt of the Asahi (“, who`is remarkably able and well-informed and quite free from any alarmist tendencies') wired that immediately on his return to Tokyo on Satur- day, the 3rd instant, Baron Rosen, the Russian Minister, addressed a Memorandum to Baron Komura, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Baron Komura at once laid this Memorandum before the Cabinet, and an urgent telegram in Kyoto, asking him to return to Tokyo was sent to Marshal Marquis, Yamagata, then
at once.
Immediately on Marquis Yama- gata's arrival in Tokyo, a special Cabinet Council was held at the residence of the Pro- mier. This was on Monday the 5th instant, and the Memorandum presented by Baron Rosen was then discussed. "In this Memorandum it appears that Russis positively declined to give any promise as to withdrawal from Man- churia, saying that such a course was at the present time quite impossible. Nevertheless Russia was willing to recognise the paramonnt influence of Japan in Corea, and also to give an Japan would be respected in carrying out what undertaking that the prestige and interest of
The Cabinet decided that such a reply left no works were regarded as necessary in Manchuria.
room for further negotiations, and this decision to the Emperor by Baron Komara. of the Cabinet was immediately communicated
On Tuesday the 6th inst. Barou Komuri hai an interview with Baron Rosen, and told him that if the atti ude of Russia was faithfully set forth in the Memorandum it was impossible for the negotiations to be continued. The interview only lasted for fifteen minutes. This statement was made verbally to Baron Rosen, apparently with a view to giving the Russian Government an opportunity to retreat from the position taken up before the formal despatch, was addressed to the representative of Russia in Tokyo.
The correspondent adds, however, that it is as yet premature to conclude that the relations between the two countries will be broken off as a result of this message. It is thought possible that the Memorandum has only been presented to the Japanese Government with the idea of sounding the views of the Cabinet, and that a compromisa will yet be arrived at in some way. or other.
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The Chua Shimbun (Tokyo) states that the Memorandum presented by Baron Rosen pointed out that the question of the evacuation of Man- churia was one appertaining to China, and must China, Japan having no right of interference. be left to direct negotiations between Russia and
offer to recognise Japaness Influence in Another point of the Memorandum was the Southern Corea if Hamgyon-do (the northern province on the banks of the" Yalu) ~ regarded as within Russia's sphere of influence. It scarcely seems possible that the Memorandum, remarks the Kobe Chronicle, can have con- tained the second suggestion, as such an ofer would show a deliberate intention of treating Japan with contempt.
On Wednesday, the 7th inst, in consequence