June 7, 1909.]
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Minutes of a Meeting of the General Com- mittee held in the Chamber Room, St. George's Building, on Monday, the 17th May 1909, at 4 p.m. Present-Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chair- man), Mr. J. R. M. Smith (Vice-Chairman), Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson, Messrs. J. W. Bonnar, D. R. Law, H. A. Siebs, E. Shellim, H. E. Tomkins, J. W. Bandow and E. A. M/ Williams (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the last Meeting held on the 12th March, 1909, were confirmed.
CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATES OF DISCHARGE
TO CHINESE SEAMEN,
Reply from Government:
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 25th March, 1909. Sr,-With reference to your letter of the 18th instant, I am directed to state that the question of the granting of Continuous Certifi- cates of Discharge to Chinese seamen will be allowed to drop.
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I shall be glad if you will be so good as to return the enclosures in my letter of the 30th ultimo.*—I am, &c.,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary. *Enclosures since received. The Secretary, The Chamber of Commerce.
LIGHT ON KAPSING ISLAND.
The following reply was received from the Government:
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 29th March, 1909. Sir,---I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant in which you state that in the opinion of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce the institution of a Light on the Southern end of Kapsing Island is urgently required as a leading light across the Harbour to the Capsuiman.
In this connection I am to inform you that the placing of a beacon on the Bunsansiah Rock has been under the consideration of this Government and it is suggested that if a light were placed on such a beacon the purpose of furnishing a leading light for the Capsuimun would be better served than by placing a light in the position your Committee suggest; while at the same time what is a serious danger to navigation would be marked.
I am to add that the Government will be glad to learn the opinion of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce on the above suggestion. -I am, &c.,.
A. G. M. FLETCHER,
for Colonial ecretary. The Secretary, The Chamber of Commerce. Memo. by Captain_Lloyd. The following Memorandum prepared by Capt. Lloyd was received:-
"The proposal of the Government to place a ight on the Bunsansiah Rock as a guide through the Kap Shui oon, and the opinion that it would furnish more protection to navi. gation than a light on the lower end of Kapsing Island is not likely to find endorsement amongst those who are practically affected by it.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I may point out that the rock is not an obstacle in any special fairway, and a straight course from the buoys to the Pass (marked by the light) leads a long way clear of it.
It would also seem that financial considera- tions would favour the island light, as finding a foundation on a submerged rock is an expensive piece of work. *
The common sense view of the matter wonld seem to be, that the matured opinion of the men who have had many years experience and practice on the route, and who have discussed the subject and weighed the claims of this or the other alternative should be the determining factor in the decision as to the site of the light.
CHAS V. LLoyd, Master, S.S. Fatshan.
Hongkong, 7th April, 1909. The Sketch made by Capt, Lloyd was laid on
the table.
Views of Capt. R. D. Thomas,
Canton, 16th April, 1909. DEAR SIR, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant enclosing a copy of the reply sent by the Government to the Chamber of Commerce with reference to establishing lights on Kapsing Island and Tong Ku. With regard to the Government proposal to place a light on the Bansansiah Rock as a guide across the harbour to the Kap Shui Moon, and the opinion that it would furnish more protection than a light on Kapsing Island does not recommend itself to those most af fected by it. Whilst agreeing that 8 light or beacon on the Bunsansiah Rock would be useful as pointing out the exact position of a danger, it finds no favour as a guide to the Pass during bad wheather, as anyone keeping away to pick up such light or beacon on a dark or foggy day or night would be unnecessarily running his ship into danger, and after picking it up would still be a mile or more away from the Fass with a nasty ledge of rocks running out from Lantao Island almost in his course on which more than one vessel has struck during my time on the river. On the other hand, it is absolutely necessary to pick up Kapsing Island to insure setting a correct course through the Pass. At the present time when there is a thin fog or heavy rain one is unable to clearly distinguish the contour of the land. The Southern foreshore of Kapsing Island and the Eastern foreshore of Lautao Island in the neighbourhood of the Pass are so much alike that it is almost im posssible to distinguish one from the other. especially so if the course across the harbour has been altered several times to clear junks when both time and position are somewhat vague. Now with a small white house (in which to keep the light) built on the Southern fore-shore of Kapsing Island this difficulty would dis- appear, as the one shore would then have a dis- tinctive mark and the erection of the light would then be quite as useful during the day as it would be at night—I remain, &c.,
R. D. THOMAS, Master, S.S. Heungshan. To E. A. M. Williams, Esq.,
Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Pilot Christie's views.
I endorse all Capt. Thomas' remarks re. light on Capsing Island. After many years experience as a pilot to Canton I have no hesitation in saying that the only safe guide through Capsing-Mun Pass is a light on Kapsing Island. A light on Bunsansiah Rock intended as a guide through the Pass would only increase the existing danger.
While agreeing in the abstract that a light on Bunsansiah Rock would be a good thing, and welcomed as pointing out the position of a danger, it nevertheless finds no favour as a bad weather guide through the pass, and I do not think there is any keen desire for such, cer- tainly not as a substitute for the applied for As a danger the rock exists, but I cannot call to mind any accident of ment:- late connected with it; the name " is presumably derived from some 'Country. Wallah" in the old sailing ship days, striking it.
It seems difficult to explain the reason for going so far afield for the solution of the problem
when it lies so near at hand.
Bunsansiah'
11
Accurate and fine drawn bearings are of little necount in our navigation, with varying courses, deviations for junks, &c., there is no time for taking or using such, keen eye-sight and good judgment are the essentials of our piloting, and the actual visual fixing of the objective is what is wanted, and not the laying down of a course which cannot be adhered to.
T. H. CHRISTIE.
The following reply was sent to the Govern
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, 27th April, 1909. SIR.I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th March, 1909, (No. 8824/1904) in reply to mine of the 18th idem having reference to the institution of a light on the Southern end of Kapsing Island.
My Committee having consulted the principal Shipping Companies interested with regard to the counter proposition of the Government that a light on Bupsansiah Rock would better serve the purpose of furnishing a leading light for the Kapsuimun, the opinion of the representa- tive shipping Companies is now set forth in a
477
memorandum dated 9th April, 1909, prepared by Capt. Lloyd, Master of the S.S. Fatshan, which I now beg to enclose.
Capt. Lloyd's opinion is supported by a letter Master, of the s.s. Heungshan, the first of the dated 16th April, 1909, from Capt. Thomas, signatories to the letter previously forwarded to the Government by the Chamber.
Capt. Thomas' letter is endorsed by Mr. T. H. Christie, a pilot of many years' experience.
A of this letter and endorsement is also
enclosed.
copy
My Committee feel that the opinions ex- pressed by so representative a selection of ex- perienced navigators are entitled to the fullest consideration and would ask therefore that the Government be good enough to reconsider the question.
I should be glad if Capt. Lloyd's memorandum may be returned.—I have &o.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
3rd May, 1909. SIR,With reference to your letter of the 27th ultimo I am directed to inquire what description of light the Chamber recommends should be placed on the Southern end of Kapsing Island and in this connection I enclose a copy of a minute by the Harbour Master dated the 28th ultimo.
I return herewith Capt. Lloyd's memorandum. -I am, &c.,
The Secretary,
F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce.
Minute by the Harbour Master. Mr. Lloyd certainly makes a very good point in the fact that courses cannot be relied upon because of the frequent necessity of getting out of the way of junks. But the principal point upon which he lays stress is the similarity of the appearance of Kap Sing Island and of Lautao Island and he seems to be more anxious for some distinguishing mark, such as a hut, than for a light, which, as I have pointed out, would not be visible in thick weather. Such a distinguishing mark could easily and economi- cally be made with a few rocks locally obtained and a bucket of whitewash.
But, if it is decided that a light is to be erected there, it would be well if the Chamber of Commerce were to say what description of light they advocate. The existing light on Mawan Island cost £51. 6. 2. including freight and insurance, but not including Public Works Department expenses for installation. If such a light were advocated, it would, in addition, involve the expenses of salary of light-keepers and of course, oil eto, An automatic (unatten- ded) acetylene light, such as is extensively used in Canada with great success, would be of much greater power and would cost about $700, but the cost of salaries would be avoided. This price would include an automatic occulting apparatus which makes the light distinctive and less costly
to run.
BASIL TAYLOR,
28/4/09.
Memo by Capt. Lloud on the preceding
minute. The light asked for on Kapsing Island is intended as a local lead and a powerful light is not necessary, as long as it is plainly visible in dark weather some 4 or 5 miles off, say, from the neighbouring point of Chunghue, it would suffice. A white light would probably best meet requirements on account of its superior penetrating power in thick weather, and if it could be made distinctive it would be better as there are generally many and various lights thereabouts.
more
On the score of finance, could not some auto- matic contrivance, such as the Gas Fairway Buoys (although it should be in some reliable form, as the gas buoys show at times only a pin-point of red light) are equipped with, be used, dispensing with the necessity of constant attendance. Acetylene I have been mentioned in such connection, and if it could be depended on would be suitable, as the light is peculiarily white.
have before emphasized the advantage of a prominent structure at that place as a disting- uishing mark or guide in a fog. As the proverb says:—“ ▲ ll cats are grey in the dark”,