March 29, 1909.]
HONGKONG GENERAL- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Minutes of a meeting held by the General Committee in the Chamber Room, St. George's Building, on Friday, the 12th March, 1909, at 3.30 p.m. Present:-Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman), Mr. J. R. M. Smith (Vice- Chairman), Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson, Messrs. A. Babington, J. W. C. Bonnar, G. Friesland, D R. Law, H. E. Tomkins, E. Shellim, H. A. Siebs, and E. A. M. Williams (Secretary).
COMMITTEE.
The CHAIRMAN welcomed the new member of the Committee, Mr. H. A. Siebs.
MINUTSS.
The Minutes of the last Committee Meeting held on the 5th December, 1908, were confirmed.
OBSERVATION STATION AT LAICHIKOK.
The following reply from the Government was received:-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
2nd February, 1909. SI-Referring to your letter of the 15th ultimo on the subject of the Regulations for the quarantine station at Laichikok I am directed to state that this Government propose to publish the enclosed amended regulations.
2. These amendments will bring the local procedure into line with that obtaining in Singapore, and it is hoped that they will satisfy the requirements of your Chamber.-I am, Sir, Your obedient servant.
F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
The Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
Enclosure.
on the.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
would ask you to let me know as soon as possible in order to facilitate arrangements.-Yours faithfully,
KENRIC B. MURRAY.
Secretary.
To the Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS.
257€
2. In the year 1900 the Board of Trade instituted a form of "Continuous Discharge Certificates" to be issued only in Home Ports. The instructions on the subject are contained in Board of Trade (Marine Department) Circular No. 41 Colonial of August, 1900. In that circular, a copy of the preamble to which I attach, it will be seen that it was evidently intended to extend use. of these new forms at
The following letter from the Government some future date. was received :-
---
Colonial Secretary's Office,
26th February, 1909. SIR, With reference to your letter of the 5th November copy of which was forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor is in receipt of a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the effect that the representations of the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of the protection in China, Corea and Japan of British trade marks registered in Hongkong have been placed before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.I am, &c.,
The Secretary,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE
26th SEPTEMBER, 1906. The following letter from the Government was received:
Colonial Secretary's Office.
26th February, 1909. SIR,-I am directed to forward a copy of a esdpatch addressed to this Government by the Secretary of State for the Colonies together with a copy of the Memorandum referred to therein, and to enquire whether your Chamber 1909 under Sec-are of the opinion that this Colony should adhere to the International Convention of the 26th September, 1906.
Regulation made by the Governor-in-Council
day of.. tion 23 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899 (Ordinance No. 10 of 1890).
4
The Instructions for Owners or Agents of Infected Vessels made by the Governor in Conncil on the. 23rd day of November, 1908, and published in Government Notification No. 852 of 1908 are hereby amended by the deletion of Instruction 1 (e) and by the substitution for Instruction 2 of the following
*
2. I shall be glad if the memorandum may be returned I am &c.,
.......
The Secretary,
F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary,
The Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
[Circular,]
2. In addition the Owners or Agents aforesaid shall pay to the Government such
Downing Street. charges as the Health Officer of the
21st January, 1909. the Port, by certificate under his hand, may
SIR, I have the honour to refer to Lord certify to have been incurred by the Go-Elgin's Circular despatch of the 10th April, vernment for medical comforts, for the cleans- 1907, transmitting a memorandum on the Inter- ing and disinfection of the vessel, or of the national Conference on Labour Regulation, held merchandise on board of her, from which the at Berne, in September, 1906, and to inform passengers and crew have been removed, and you that His Majesty's Government have now for the burial of the bodies of any of the
adhered to the International Convention of 26th September, 1906, respecting the prohibi passengers or crew who may die in the Station. They shall also refund to the
tion of the use of White Phosphorus in the Government the cost of scavenging the manufacture of matches. Station at a rate of cent per head per day of the passengers
and crew.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
8th February, 1909. SIR,-I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your reply to the Chamber's letter of 16th ultimo on the subject of the Regulations for the Quarantine Station at Laichikok, and to state that this will receive the consideration of my Committee at their next meeting.--I am &c.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS.
Secretary.
Hon. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
It was decided to reply that the Committee approved of the amended regulations under Section 25 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1899 (No. 10 of 1890), and to thank His Excel- lency the Governor for the consideration shown to the views of the Chamber in the matter.
SEVENTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE EMPIRE.
Acknowledgement of Chamber's reply by London Chamber :-
Oxford Court, Cannon Street,
London, 11th January, 1909. DEAR SIR.-I beg to thank for your letter
you
of December 9th, contents of which, I note.
I trust that a representative from
your
tion were annexed to the memorandum enclosed 2. The text and translation of this Conven-
in the despatch under reference.
3. I am to enquire whether you desire that the Colony under your Government should adhere to this Convention. I have &c...
CREWE.
The Officer Administering the Government
of...
The Enclosure was laid on the table.
CERTIFICATES OF DISCHARGE TO
CHINESE SEAMEN,
:
The following letter from the Government was received :--
Colonial Secretary's Office,
30th January, 1909. SIR, I am directed to forward for the obser ration of your Chamber a copy of a letter addressed to this Government with enclosures in original regarding of continuous certificates of discharge to Chinese seamen.
2. I shall be glad if the enclosures may be returned.-I am, &c.,
F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
The Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
[Copy.]
Harbour Department. Hongkong, 12th January, 1909. SIE, I have the honour to make the follow-
Chamber will find it possible to attend, and ing representations:--
3. So far as we, in this Colony, are concerned, I think that the time has now arrived for us to issue a somewhat similar form in the case of Chinese seamen signing on and being discharged in the Colony, in ships on the Home run!
4. The new forms now issued at Home have proved most useful. To prevent a man from sinking" unfavourable reports in fact, contain a virtual history of his sea service.
5. In order to adapt the system to Chinese, it will be necessary for their photographs to be attached. My experience has shown me that a single, full face or 3/4 face, photograph is not sufficient for identification: there should there- fore be two photographs, one full face and one in profile. I attach a cancelled form-one of those issued at home-with an amended front sheet, such as I suggest should be employed here.
6. I suggest that these forms should be used only for ships on the Home run, at present, as until the Chinese understand them, there would be considerable difficulty in using them on the East. On the Home run most of the difficulties do not exist and the new form would be of great use at home ports, more especially in view of the Language Test.
7. If these forms are approved and instituted, it will be advisable that similar forms be used at other Far Eastern Ports in order that there may be uniformity, and also that their full value may be obtained, for they would lose much of their usefulness if restricted to but one port. I have &c.,
B. R. H. TAYLOR.
Harbour Master.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
:
It was believed that the concensus of opinion among Shipowners at Home was that the new system had not resulted in the benefits anti- cipated. The Committee were of the opinion that the idea was inpracticable when applied to Chinese seamen and if brought into force on the China Coast would be a decided disadvantage to British Shipping in obtaining labour.
The Committee were not prepared to support the scheme.
ISLAND
PETITION FOR LIGHTS ON KAPSING
AND TONG-KU ISLAND. The following letter from Capt. R. D. Thomas on behalf of Masters of Vessels trading between Hongkong, Canton, Macao and Ports on the West River was received :-
S.S. Heungshan,
Hongkong, 6th March, 1909. DEAR SIR,-On behalf of the Masters in command of vessels trading between Hongkong, Canton, Macao and ports on the West River, I beg to enclose herewith a copy of a petition sent to the Hon. Basil Taylor, Harbour Master, asking for more lights. Trusting that the Chamber of Commerce will approve of and see fit to support our petition.-I'am &c.,
R, D. THOMAS, Master s.s. Heungshan,
Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett.
Chairman,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
◊
[Copy.]
Hongkong, 5th March, 1909. DEAR SIR--We the undersigned Comman ders of vessels trading to and from this Port deem it advisable in the interest of safe navi- gation that the following lights should be erected :-
1. That a light be placed on the Southern end of Kapsing Island. To act as a leading - light across the Harbour to the Kapsing Moon Pass.
2. That a light be placed either on Tong - Ku Island or Doulder Point. To act as a leading light into Brothers Channel and also for the West River Steamers passing between Tong Ku and Sau Chan.-We are etc.,