March 2, 1908.]
Mr. H. P. WHITE moved the re-election of the outgoing committee, fie Hon. Mr. E. 4. Hewett, Hon. Mr. H. Keswick, Messrs. G. Friesland, D. R. Law, G. H. Medhurst, A. Fuchs, H. E. Tomkins, and A. G. Wood. Those gentlemen enjoyed the confidence of the Chamber.
Mr. E. H. HINDE seconded, and the motion was agreed to,
The CHAIRMAN-The next question before you is the suggestion to increase the number of the committee from nine to ten.
For many years the constitution of the committee has been very much as it is at the present moment, but it occurred to us sometime ago that it would be advisable to get a gentleman on as a member who was more directly interested as a merchant in the import trade of India, or Bombay, in view of the enormous export trade existing between this Colony and India. Therefore we come before you to ask you to increase oor committee.
Mr. A FORBES proposed that the number of members of committee be increased from nine
to ten.
The motio was seconded by Mr. C. J. LAFRENTZ. and carried.
Mr. J. A. JUP proposed the confirmation of the election as members of Messrs. Soares and Co., Mr. G. Grimble, the Netherland Indies Commercial Bank, Messrs. Lowe and Bingham. and Messrs. Wallam & Co.
Mr. W. G. HUMPHREYS seconded and the motion was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN -I would ask you gentlemen, to confirm the appointment of the secretary which your commit'es decided on. I can only Bay the committee have taken a very great deal of trouble with the applications received, and we believe we have made a happy selec. tion, and recommend the appointment for con- firmation.
Mr. A. G. WoOD seconded, and the appoint. ment was confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN-I am very much obliged for your attendance, gentlemen. That concludes the business of the meeting.
The report for 1917, states that several im- portant questions have had the attention of the Committee during the past year.
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The attempt of the Viceroy of Liang Kiang to establish an (pium Monopoly at Ninkin and thus injure British interest by fostering native produce at the expense of the Indian Article. and which was in direct contravention of Article 5 of the British Treaty of Nankin 1842, received the earnest attention of the Committee. Profe-ts were made to H.B.M.'s Minister, Sir John Jordan, K C M.G, at Peking and to the Hongkong Government. It is satisfactory to be able to report that, as a result of Sir John Jordan's r-presentations, the Central Government of His Imperial Majesty instructed th Viceroy of Nankin to suspend the Monopoly and a proclamation was issued by the Kiangoan Opium Monopoly Bureau ou the 7th Sept-mber, 1907, to that effect. The Committee had the support of the China
Association in their action.
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The sum of $12 was refunded to Commandor R. W. Glennie of H.M.S. "Waterwitch for paymen's made by him to fishermen as a reward for discovering shoals and rocks at the Good Hope Cape, Swatow and Tongsang Harbour, and the thanks of the Committee conveyed to him.
In response to a letter received from the Colombo Chamber of Commerce suggesting co-operation with this hember in seeking modification of the Crown Avents System, the Committee replied that they had no reason to complain of the ystem and had nothing further to add to their letter of the 24th July, 1903, ou the subject.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to the Chamber the Government's proposal to amend Table O (1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and to allow private mooring buoys to be used by ships of other owrers, when racant, The Committee, in their reply, dealt fully with the subject and differed almost in foto with the arguments for a revision of the present system | set forth by the Government. The Goveru ment's reply is at present receiving the Com- mittee's earnest consideration.
A matter which received the attention of the Committee was the Prepard Opium Amend- ment Ordinance 1906 (No. 15 of 196 and subsequent notification (No. 219 of 5th April, 1907). In consequence of strong represe ta tions by Messrs. A. S. Watson & Co, Ltd,, sad their contention that the new Ordinance was unfair to local chemists and draggists, the Chamber placed their contention before the Gorerament and suggested tha+ if the Government desired closer control of opium ant morphis, separate books should be kept by the chemists and druggists for the recording of the sale of these drugs, and such books should be open to periodical examination by the | Government. In response to the Chamber's letter on the subject, the Governmaut promised | that the matter should have their further consideration.
The Committee having been requested by the Government to nominate a Mister Mariner to the Committee appointed by His Excellence the Governor to consider the advisibility of making certain alterations in the weather forecists and storm warnings issued by the ongkong O servatory, Captain J. Roach, of the s.. "Haitan," kindly agreed to act as their representative. In response to a reques' by the Geroment for any observations the Chamber might have to make on the suggestions drafted by Commodore Williams, RN., the Committee expressed themselves A3 being entirely in accord with the Government's viess and thanked the Government for the oppor tunity afforded the Chamber of commenting upon them.
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Latters were received from the Shanghai Chamber requesting the co-operation of this Chamber in protesting against the quarantine restrictions of the Government on vessals from Shanghai, oxing to the alleged prevalence of cholera at that port. The Commitee took pleasure in supporting the protest of the Shang-
hai Chamber.
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141
approved of the Bill generally but suggested a slight alteration which did not commend itself to the G..rernment. The Committee were also asked for their observations on the proposal of the Government to introduo legislation to enable the Governor in-Council to strike off the
fu
Companies' Register any ire Insurancs Com. pauies financially unsound as to be virtually fraudulent and assured the Government that such a measure would have their cordial approval. The Chamber were farther honoured by being asked if, in their opinion, such legislation should extend to Registers d Companies which under. write marine risks. The Committee in their reply, whilst approving the principle, pointed out that hardly the same necessity for protecting the public existed with regard to Marine Insuranc Compauies, as the insured being business m v, wers more able to judge of the stability of the Company and the trauslctions were more often confined to shorter periods.
The Committee in their report for 1906 dealt with the injustice to merchants at Newobwang from the fact that goods pissed through Tairen (Dainy duty free. From a copy of a letter from the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in Peking to the Shanghai Chamber, your Committee learn with pleasure that it is the intention of the Imperial Maritime Customs to establish sations both at Dalny and the Northern frontier of Mauohuria.
The China Association, Shanghai Branch, haring approached the Government with a view to ascertaining what measure of support a proposed Shangbai International Exhibition 1909, might be expected from this Colony, the Government requested the Chamber's opinion. The Committee express d themselves as strongly in favor of the Erbibition.
The vered question of Currency Reform has again had the attention of the C. mmittee. This hamber joined with the Shanghai and Tientsin Chambers in signing a Memorial to the Dean of the D.plomatic Corps in Peking as was the case in 1903 and 1904. The Com mittee als fully communicated their views | again to the Government of Hongkong,
who forwarded a
copy to the Secretary Your Committee of State for the Colonies. regret that Do material improvement in currency reform is apparent notwithstand- ing all this Chamber's efforts made in that direction. The question bas, however, since been taken up by His Excellency the Governor and the report of the Committee appointed by him to consider the matter is now reciting the consideration of the Government.
The Chamber received a request from the West India Committee, London, tjin them and other Chambers in protesting against the intention of His Majesty's Gorera- ment to withdraw from the Brussels Sagir, Bounty Convention at the end of the first five years of its establishment, ie, 1st September, 1908. The Commilt recognising the importance to this Colony with its very consilerable sugar refining industry of the Imp-rial Government's adhesion to the Cou vention, addressed a protest to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Cul nies, and expressed the hope that His Majesty's Minister would d-side that it would be in lbe beat interests of the Empire that Great Britain should remain a party to tha, Convention for another spaos of five years. By the courtesy of the Hoogkong Goverument a copy was received by the despatch from S.r Edward Grey to His Majesty's Winister at Brussel-.
hamber of a
By the courtesy of the Government the Chamber was ausbled to criticise the Bill An Ordinance to authoriz· Companies regist red under the Companies Ord nance, lwii, to keep loed registers of their members outside the Colony." The Committee, feeling that the Bill, for the greater part, affected those com panies whose business was entirely confined to A letter was received from the joint managers Shanghai, forwarded the draft to the Shanghai of the Liverpool Colonial Products Exbibition Chamber. After considering that Chamber's requesting the assi-tance of this Chamber in
rews on the Bill, the Committee of this Cham- making the merchants of the Colony acquainted ber were able to suggest e rtain mo lifications with the undertaking. The Committee FI. to the Government, which ware adopt+', pressed themselves as being in sympathy with The Gover, meat did this Chamber the the Exhibition and offered to distribute any honour to invite their comments on an import- circulars containing details which might be aut Ordinance relating to Life Insurance Com forthcoming.
panies which provided for A I
eposit to be Very important correspondence on the sub-made with the Registrar as arity for ject of private mooring buoys in the Harbour policy holders, and the periodical actuarial has passed between the Chamber and the Hong-
| examination of Life Companies' habil ter kong Government. In a letter dated the 6th together wit annual schedules for the better August, 1907, the Colonial Secretary conveyed control of such Companies. The Committee
од
The Chamber was ap, roached by the Hong- kong Government to give its views
the subject of shipping coaferences and combines and their relation to the hampe ing or other- wise of British trade for the purpose of answering a letter fro o the Secretary of State for the Calomes. l'he Cambie also received a request for their opinion from the Storetary of sting in London. the Royal Commission now A Sub-Committee consis ing of a Merchant and a representative of the Shipping Companies was appointed to consider the auswer the Chamber should give. A circular letter containing the form of questi na desired to be answered by the Royal Commission was ismed to all Members of the Chamber. Thirty-two replies were received out of a total of 114 Membars. The concnsus of opinion was that the exidence of Shipping Conferences was helpful rather thay barmful as regards the China trade. Replies to this effect were dispatched to the Hongkong Government and
the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings.
to
By the courtesy of the Government the Cham. ber were afforded the opportunity of commen'ing upon a proposal of the Government to introduce legislation for the purpose of probiting the circulation in the Colony of all bank notes other
Tha than those already anthorised.
Com mittea replied that they could see no objecti a touch legislation, provided that the method adopted would not interfere with the negotiation of notes of other countries and currencies which into the Colony through find their way travellers and in the ordinary roate of trade.
The Committee placed any information they might possess likely to be of use at the disposal of Mr. Yang shih Chi, a cuiness Official purmaing an enquiry into trada conditi as in
Possessions Colonial
of Western Power
baring Chise. Communition.