April 26, 1909.]
THE TYPHOON REFUGE,
LICENSE FEES ON LIGHTERS,
1
CHINA'S CURRENCY.
339
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. for some days, we will, with your permission, | ping firms. Our contention is that the marks in the United Kingdom should not be take them as read. As you will have observed refuge is for the benefit of the Colony insisted upon as one of the conditions under from the published correspondence now before as a whole, not particularly for the bone- which they can be registered in the Colony; and you, the Committee have had an unusually busy fit of shipping, and under these circum in order that the Home Government may be year, having been called upon to consider and stances the funds needed for the refuge should be in a position to protect British trade marks deal with a large number of important ques- provided out of general taxation towards which in the Far East- view in which I trust the tions. I will now refer to those which appear the shipping and shipowners fully contribute in members of the Chamber concur. We under- to deserve special mention, as briefly as possible, light dues, license an other fees, and taxes on stand that the whole question as to the proteo- their shore properties This view, unfortunate- tion of British trade marks is now seriously For a considerable number of years this Cham-ly, does not appeal to the Government who, engaging the attention of the Foreign Office, her has urged upon the Government the need as I have already stated, appears to helieve and we trust that the principle of the right for increased protection for small craft in the har- that because individual charges are not conferred by prior usage of a trade mark will be bour, the Causeway Bay shelter having for some to their mind high, it is quite imma-accepted by H. M. Government. time past proved inadequate for the purpose. The terial how these taxes are piled up. question has again been brought prominently forward and considerable discussion on the subject has taken place during the past twelve months. As you will remember at the time of the tornado of 18th September, 1996, which resulted in such heavy loss to the small craft in the harbour, H.E. Sir M. Nathan promised that any funds raised by public subscription in the Colony for the relief of the sufferers from the storm would he doubled by the Government. So generously, however, was cur appeal for aid responded to by all nationali- ties trading here, that the subscription not only fully met all claims upon the fund, but left a surplus of some $35.000 which was handed to the Government to be used, so far as the fund would last, for the relief of sufferers under similar catastrophes. The Colony's subscriptions therefore not having been drawn up. the Relief Committee suggested that the Govern ment contributions which otherwise would have been devoted to the typhoon fund should be used as a nucleus towards the construction of a new
typhoon refuge for small craft. The sum to which the Colony was pledged by Sir M. Nathan amounted to close upon $280,000. The question as you are aware, has now reached that stage when we hope that before many years are past this refuge. so urgently needed for the general welfare of the Colony, will be an accom- plished fact. The question of the cost, however. and the means by which the necessary funds were to be raised have led to considera- ble discussion with the Government. The original estimate was about $600.000. Each suc- ceeding calculation increased this sum until this was nearly trebled, the latest figure being con- siderable over 15 million dollars. In order to raise this sum the Government proposed to pay half out of current revenue, and the other half by a special tax on shipping.
THE TAX ON SHIPPING.
The reasons for this proposal are fully set forth by His Excellency the Governor in a very lucid memorandum, dated 8th May, 1908, which is included in our report. I need hardly say that the argument, put forward in this themorandum do not, by any means, meet with the support of the Shipping Companies, and the memorandum from their representatives enclosed with a letter to this Chamber, dated 23rd June last. appears to show very clearly that His Excel- lency's reasons are fallacious, and if acted upon are directly opposed to the real interests of the Colony. It would, in our opinion, he a very great mistake were the Government to look upon shipping as the milch cow which is to supply so much of the loss of
License fees ou lighters have recently been very largely advanced. A demand was made for a quarantine station and immediately it was proposed that all sorts of expenses in this can- nection, expenses which would be incurred in the interests of the Colony, should be put uppn the ship-owners. This last proposal. I qu glad to say, has been dropped, as the Committee of the Chamber has been able to convince the Government that this last proposed exaction was unreasonable, and opposed to the system which obtains in other ports. As I have previously stated on more than one occasion. Hongkong owes its position as leading shipping ports of the world, entirely to its geographical position.
one of the
are now
THE DECENTRALISING TENDENCY OF SHIPPING, It is within the memory of many of 18, when practically the whole of the Far Eastern trade centred in
some thres ports in Japan, three in China; and in Hongkong, ocean going steamers rarely calling at other ports. The consequence as that an enormous trude centred in these ports. collected by coasting vessels which acted as feeders to the ocean lines. This tendency for concentration is, however, largely disappearing. Of late years shipojrners have shown an in- creasing readiness to send their ocean steamers
| becoming more marked.
to other ports and this is. year by year,
Owners loading steamers direct for Europe or America at ports whose names were hardly known to the outside world a few years ago, or which then did not even exist; and with the increased facili- ties for direct trade, which the development of railways in China and other improvements which are constantly offering, this tendency to decen tralization must increase. The movement can- not but be encouraged if the Government of Hongkong persists in what I cannot but des. cribe as a suicidal policy of increasing the taxes on shipping when they should on the other hand. be doing all in their power to attract shipping to the port instead of driving it away. I have spoken, Gentlemen, at considerable length on this point, not because I wish to urge the
PRIVATE MOORINGS.
interests of any one section of our trade. but as apart altogether from such special interests as we may individually represent. I speak here, as I always do under similar conditions, iu what I sincerely believe to be the true interests of the Colony as a whole, and it is only because of the special knowledge my business gives me of this side of the question. that I consider it my duty as your Chairman to utter a most earnest revenue word of warning to the Government against experienced in other directions, and to what I cannot but consider a line of policy furnish funds for great public works which are required in the interests of the Colony seriously against the prosperity of the colony. which if persisted in must in the long run re-act as a whole, and not in that of the ship- ping only, but this is unfortunately a fear which we have entertained since the recent action of the Government. It is quite true that when a typhoon approaches this Colony considerable delay, and consequently pecuniary loss, is incurred by such shipping as happens to be in port at the moment, but it has apparently been entirely overlooked that the bulk of the small craft is not directly em- ployed by the Shipping Companies. It 15, on the contrary used more largely by merchants, property owners, and the usual classes of wholesale and retail dealers which go to form the bulk of the business section of the Colony. This, I think, can be demonstrated by any one who cares to go down the Praya on an average working day, and make enquiry as to the purpose for which each junk and native boat on the water frontage is being used, and by whom engaged. It will be found that a very small proportion only is engaged by ship-
In my address last year, I referred to the Government proposal that the use of all moor- ings in the harbour should be placed in the hands of the Harbour Master. It was hoped that the Government would have accepted the reasons against this scheme which had been put forward by them, but unfortunately this was not the case, and further correspondence has passed between the Chamber and the Colonial Secretary which is now published in our report. We are still in an unpleasant state of uncertainty as to whether, the Governinent may not in the end endeavour to force upon us what we cannot but look upon as an entirely unnecessary and vexa- tious piece of legislation.
TRADE MARKS.
The question of the Registration of Trade Marks has as you will see, also received the attention of the Committee, who have informed the Government that in their opinion compulsory registration of trade
of China's Currency has, during the past The important question of the reform
year, been advanced anothér
stage by the issue of a Imperial Edict order. the necessary steps to introduce a standard ing the Provincial Authorities to take silver coinage for use throughout the Empire. This question is, of course, of the utmost im- portance both to China and all engaged in trade with her, and it is to be hoped the terms of the Edict will be carried out with as little delay as may be necessary.
ATTEMPTED OPIUM MONOPOLY.. During the period under review another attempt has been made by the Authori- ties in tho Brovinces of the Two Kwongs to establish what would practically have amounted to a monopoly for the sale of raw
and prepared opium. The British firms in Hongkong interested in this trade represented the matter to the Chamber,
for further control over the opium were brought who strongly supported them in the view taken, viz: that if the proposed regulations into force, this would be a direct violation of the treaties. For the moment, owing to the re- presentations made by the Consul-General at Canton, the Chinose Authorities made no further more, but the British Minister at Peking at first took the view that the contem- plated regulations did not amount to the estab- lishment of a monopoly and consequently did not amount to a breach of the treaties. considerable further correspondence with the ougkong Government and the British Lega- tion at Peking, an assurance was however given by the Waiwupu that the contemplated regulations would apply to native opium only. occasion to point out on previous occasions, it is So far this is satisfactory, but as I have had only by constant vigilance on the part of foreign merchants, and the Chambers of Com- merce, these repeated attempts on the part of Chineso Officials to illegally interfere with foreign trado can be checked. The whole history of our Chambers is one long record of,such fights.
the
CANTON KOWLOON RAILWAY.
section of tho
After
We
progress now being made with the nearer It is satisfactory to be able to refer to
railway system which hope before long will link our Colony with Europe. It is however very much to be regret- the extension of the line from Canton to ted that such slow progress is being made with lankow. This is a matter of utmost im- portance to this Colony, and such influence as may be possessed, both by the British Govern- men and the business community of this
tion of the much needed work, on terms. Colony should be directed towards encouraging, and, where possible, helping dn, the comple- satisfactory to the communities interested, as well as the investing public.
CHINESE SEAMEN ON BRITISH SHIPS..
has
Another question of great importance to the local shipping of this Colony been raised by the Board of Trade, which is, whether seamen engaged on board British ships possess a sufficient knowledge of English to understand orders given them. This regula- tion was not to apply to British subjects, and a further question therefore arose as to whether Chinese seamen belonging to Hong- kong could produce certificates of place of birth thus entitling them to this exemption. Excellency The Governor held the opinion that. such a regulation is not feasible, a view which was strongly endorsed by this Committee, as it appeared to us, if the proposal of the Board of Trade were acted upon, it would result in pat- ting an end to all Coasting and River trade under the British flag in this part of the world.
His
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