236
majority. It appears to this Chamber that the obligation to secure buoy accommodation should rest with the lesser interest-the important minority who have not expended capital in laying down moorings. It may be taken for granted that the majority represent the pioneers of shipping in the Colony, and that the minority consist almost entirely of competitive owners who come and go as suits their interesis. While this latter statement may not carry much weight with the Govern. ment the Committee of this Chamber consider that it is a print worthy of the Government's earnest consideration in view of the fact that
their proposs! would be placing responsibility and inconvenience on the majority, who are the regular trad rs to and from the Colony, which this Chamber consider would be unfair and unjust.
My Committee have read with considerable interest the list forwarded by the Government of Owners and Agents who have complained of their inability to 8-cure the use of moorings. Speaking on behalf of the members of this Committee who are bugy owners, I am directed to state most emphatically that in no single instance have they been approached by the complainants for accommodation, and I am further instructed to state that, bad they taken trouble to do so, in no case would permission have been refused where owners were in a position to grant the facility.
My Committee have giv a further careful consideration to the Government's renewol representations, and are unanimously of opinion that any change in the present system is unworkable pel-ss the Govern- ment take over all the leases, moorings and buoys. A system which involves inconvenient obligation on the buoy owners to keep the Har. bour Master coustantly supplied with informa tion when their bays are vacant and again when they are required: a system which gua the Harbour Master undertakes to have buoys ready for use by their owners: a system which mast lend itself constantly to a sort of "general post" at most inconvenient times is bound to lead to great dissatisfaction all round. Indeed,
rantees that when the latter notification is made
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
still unalterably of opinion that the proposed increase in the Supreme Court Vacations is not in the best interests of the Colony generally, and have no reason to change the views express- ed in their letter of the 19th instant.
I bave &c.,
Sgd. E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
HON. F. H. May, C.M.G, Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong, 4th March, 1908. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, SIR, Referring to my letter to you of the 22nd ultimo, I beg to forward you copy of the resolutions which were passed at a meeting of the Law Society bld on the 2nd March, 1908. I am to add that they were not pissed an. animously.
I have &c.,
Sgd. A. H. G. JACKSON. Hon. Secretary.
Enclos re.
1-That the extension of the Christmas and
Easter Vacation as mentioned in the letter of His Huvoir the Chief Justice dated the 7th August, 197, should be agreed to.
2-That the Long Vacation should be ex- tended and that such Vacations should begin 1st August and end 30th September, subject however, to adequate provision being made in respect of the following matters:-
(+) That the Long Vacation should not effect time running for appearance under specially endorsed Writs, and that application for Sum mary Judgement should be permitted to be made as if no Vacation existed, the usual Summons days being available for the purpose.
(b) That the Long Vacation should not apply to Bankruptcy proceedings.
(e) That the whole of the business and work of the Curts should proceed in the usual way (except the actual trial of actions and the deli very of pleadings) and that all applicants the Court for injunctions and other matters should, as far as possible, be dealt with in
Chambers.
(d) That during the Long Vacation and immediately preceding and subsequent thereto
[April 13, 1908. Excellency would request the Secretary of the Chamber to supply_them.
I have &o.,
His Excellency,
Sgd. F. T. PIGGOTT,
Chief Justice.
Sir Frederick Lugard, K.C.M.G.,
Governor, Hongkong.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
12th March, 1908.
.
SIR, I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant (No. 9203/1907) covering copy of a letter from His Honcur the Chief Justice to His Excellency the Governor in which the former expresses a desire that the signatures to the letter received by the Chamber from eight Solicitors' firms should be submitted to him.
I am to state that the letter in question was written in confid noe to assist my Committee in arriving at an opinion on the matter of the Supreme Court Vacation when the Government honoured the Chamber by requesting its views on the subject.
I am to state further that my Committee fail to see that, having published the letter, the addition of the signatories could be of interest to those for whom the publication was intended. My Committee therefore regret that under the circumstances they are unable to furnish the information now required.
Ta order, however, that His Excellency the Governor may be satisfied that the document show it to him or his representative (other than in question is authentic, I am authorised to
the present applicant) for His Excellency's, information, if such is desired.
I have &c.,
Sgd. E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office. 16th March, 1908. SIR,-Referring to your letter of the 12th instant on the subject of the letter addressed by eight Solicitors' firms to your Chamber, His Excellency the Governor directs me to state that he is quite satisfied with the authenticity
that he does not need, ocular evidence.
I am, &c.,
in the opinion of my Committee the important (in the absence of Counsel retained in a parti. of any letter sent to him by the Chamber and
minority would be the first to disapprove of the Government's proposal if it was expained to them and their opinion asked.
21
The disadvantages which the "important miporily complain of are trivial, and I am directed by my Committee to say that in their opinion the Government used have no apprehen sion that the very slight inconvenience they refer to will make the Port unpopular or drive trade away.
The present system bas well worked in the past, and there is no reason why it should work better in the future if non-buoy owners will only take the trouble, either to ask buoys owners for ti e use of their property or notify the Harbour Master that they are desirous of securing buoy accom- modation and the length of time the convenien- ce is required. In such cases the Harbour Master can readily enquire of buoy owners and ascertain if it is possible to conveniently ar range the facility.
In conclusion I am instructed to say that my Committee appreciate and confirm the Go. vernment's belief in the auxiety of the Commit. tee of this Chamber to at all times second in every way the efforis of the Government to promote the interests of the port, but they regret that on this cocasion they are unable to acquiesce in the Government's proposals which they believe to be unnecessary and, if adopted, are likely to prove extremely vexatious.
I have &c.,
Sgd. E. A. M. WILLIAMS;
Secretary.
Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary, Mr. Keswick said that probably the Chamber would be requested by the Government to express a further opinion on this subject.
SUPREME COURT VACATIONS.
The following correspondence was read :-
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, 29th February, 1908. SIR, I am directed by my Committee to say, that nothwithstanding any further corres pondence that has passed, my Committee are
cular case or matters). the solicitors engaged in such case or matter should have full right and in the same extent as if they were Counsel of audience in open Court in the same manner engaged in the case or matter.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
10th March, 1903. SIR-I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant en. closing copy of tho resolutions which were passed at a Meeting of your Society held on the 2nd instant.
I havo &c.,
Sgd. E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary. Hon. Sccretary, Hongkong Law Society.
Colonial Secretary's Office, 10th March, 1908. SIR, -Referring to your letter of the 19th ultimo, I am directed to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter from His Honour the Chief Justice in which he asks for the names of the signatories to the enclosure to your letter under referens'.
I am &c..
Sgd. F. H. MAY,
Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce,
:
Enclosure. Chimbers, Supreme Court,
Gth March, 1908. SIR,-In your Fxcellenoy's letter received yesterday on the subject of the Rule of Court extending the Long Vacation, a letter from the Chamber of Commerce is enclosed which contains a letter addressed to the Chamber purporting to be "signed by eight Solicitors" firms representing half of the firms in Hong- kong.' As the signatures are not appended to the copy of this letter annexed in Your Excellency's letter to me, I should be glad to be informed of the names of these eight firms, if they are given. I should be glad if Your
1
اثر
Sgd. F. H. MAY,
Colonial Secretary. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
NEW
SE MANA
NEW TYPH ON E RBOUR OF REFUGE.
a
The following letter from the Government was read.-
Colonial Secretary's Office, 11th March, 1908.
Fir, It will be within the recollection of the Chamber of Commerce that in 1904 this Government referred to them the proposal to construct a new Typhoon Refuge at Mongkok- tsui, and that the Chamber in reply advocated the Refuge should be situated at Cheung-Sha- Wan,
2 Since the typhoon of 8th September, 1906, the question has been again before the Govern-. ment and the Typhoon Relief Committee, the Chinese Stevedores and the Public Works Committee baving declared themselves in favour of a Refuge at Mongkoktsui, a detailed estimate of the cost of the latter has been prepared. The former estimate was only a rough calculation at a given price per foot run to enable a comparison to be made between the cost of several breakwaters at different sites that had been suggested, and it is estimated that making provision for increased solidity due to the experience of the typhoon of 1908 and for considerable advance in prices, a breakwater at Mongkoktsui to enclose 166 acres of sheltered water will cost $1,540,0° 0.
3 This sobeme has been considered by the Public Works Committee whose report thereon is enclosed. It will bo observed that they re- commend the scheme aud further suggest that pending its construction the accommodation in the Causeway Bay Shelter be increased by deepening the area therein' which dries at low water.
This latter will be undertaken forthwith at' an estimated cost of $70,000.
4 The total estimated cost of these improve. ments is $1,610,000, and inasmuch as they will ·