Page
July 10, 1909.]
:
country, and of quite an international character. It counts among its members British, German, American, French, Swiss, Austrian, Dutch, Australian, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian and other representives.
The present Tariff is, in the case of many Articles of Import, of a highly protective nature, and there is every indication that national sentiment favours an increase in the import duties, tending especially towards shutting out many foreign articles and sub- stituting for them articles of native make. In the circumstances it appears to be of vital importance that foreigners interested in the import trade of Japan, including doubtless several members of your Chamber, should use all the means at their disposal to represent in the proper quarters their own interests, and thse of the countries to which they belong. With this object in view we would venture to suggest:
(1) That your Chamber should put before the Foreigh Office of your Country or other proper authority your ideas and suggestions regarding any change in the Tariff between your Country and Japan. That you should send us a short statement showing the principal articles in respect of which you consider an increase in the pre- sent scale of duty would be injurious to the trade in general, together with any reasons and arguments which you may be able to advance in support of your position, and any other particulars which you may con sider to be useful.
We would respectfully request that your communications should, if convenient to yon, be written in the English language or have an nglish translation attached, as this language is most widely understood and used by all foreigners here in their intercourse with each other and the Japanese.
There is every reason to believe that the Japanese will push their views by all diplomatic and peaceful means. It is therefore our desire that the support given to foreign trade interests here, shall be as prompt and effective as possible, and we request you to assist us by equipping your Home Government with the most accurate information enabling them to support to the fullest extent thoir Country's trade with Japan, and by any other means in your power to co. operate with us to the same end. - We are, &c.,
For The International Tariff Revision Committee, E. C. DAVIS,
Chairman.
The President,
The Chamber of ( ommerce,
Hongkong.
It was decided to circulate the foregoing letter among the Members of the Chamber with the idea that those whose interests were likely to be affected by the New Tariff might take the steps for their protection therein mentioned.
It was considered that individual action for the conservation of individual interests was advisable, but the Chamber would take the matter up and represent the views of members if it were so desired.
ARBITRATION AND SUVEYS ON PIECE GOODS.
Letter from Bradford Chamber:
|
Exchange, Bradford, 11th May, 1909. DEAR SIR, This Chamber has had under consideration the important question of claims made by buyers in the Eastern arkets in re- spect of alleged inferiority in the quality of Worsted, Woollen and Cotton goods delivered, and the results of the Arbitrations and settle.
ments of these claims. A considerable amount of dissatisfaction has arisen amongst exporters of these goods in this district on account of their having had to submit to adverse decisions and to make allowances and pay the costs of Arbitrations. Several exporters have declared emphatically that the goods in respect of which they have had to bear a serious loss have been fully up to the required quality and that there- fore they have had to suffer through some error of judgment on the part of some Arbitrator or Surveyor.
•
This Chamber has no doubt that having regard to the difficult circumstances attending such cases the greatest care is taken to secure the services of the most competent Arbitrators
+
33
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
or Surveyors obtainable to ensure a fair and and prosperity of this nation why the participa just decision. I am desired, however, to sug-tion of the Colonies and Dependencies of this gest to you the advisability of the adoption in Empire should be upon a scale of equal your district of a system similar to that in magnitude and comprehensiveness. force in Bombay. I am to say that in the view of this Chamber the assimilation of the practice in your district to that prevailing in Bombay would be likely to give greater con- fidence and to ensure the continuance of the good relations existing between buyers in the East and exporters in this country.
I am, therefore, desired to express the hope that this suggestion will receive your careful consideration. —I am, &c..
F. ANDERSON, Secretary,
The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong,
A letter from the Government was received covering a copy of a letter similar to the foregoing which has been sent to the Govern inent by the Bradford Chamber and on which this hamber's views were requested.
It was decided to write the Bombay Chamber of Commerce to obtain particulars of the system iu vogue at that Chamber in reference to Arbitrations and Surveys on Piece Goods.
DEAFT TRADE MARKS BILL. Letter from Government :-
ffice.
Colonial Secretary's
Hongkong, 14th June, 1909. S-I am directed to transmit for the consideration of your Committee the enclosed ¦ draft of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Trade arks and to inquire whether your Committee concurs in the provisions of the Bill as drafted, I am, &c.
C. CLEMENTI, for Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce.
The enclosure was laid on the table. The Chairman suggested the appointmert of a Sub-Committee to consider the Draft Bill. and it was agreed that the Sub-Committee be composed of the following gentlemen-Mr. E. Shellim, Mr. A. Babington, and Mr. H. A. Siebs.
NEW MEMBERS.
The following Companies were unanimously elected Members of the Chamber :-Messrs. the China and Manila S.S. Co., Ltd., Messrs. Cruz, Basto & Co., and Messrs. the Vacum Oil Co,.
JAPAN-BRITISH EXHIBITION.
The following letter was received from the Government:-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
28th June, 1909. SIB. I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to refer the enclosed copy of a letter from the Commissioner General of the Japan British Exhibition for the consideration of your Committee and to inquire whether in the opinion of your Committee this Colony should partici- pate in the exhibition. I am. &c.,
The Secretary,
A. M. THOMSON,
Colonial Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce.
Enclosures.
|
|
28th May, 1909. SIR, I have the pleasure to inform you that an arrangement has been concluded between His Excellency Mr. Kato, Ambassador of Japan at the Court of St. James, on behalf of the Emperor and Government of that Empire and White City" for hold. ing an Exhibition at Shepherd's Bush exclu sively confined to the Arts, Manufactures and Products and Products of the Japanese and British Empires, commencing on May 3rd, 1910. and remaining open for about six months.
the Authorities of the
14
This will be the first occasion upon which Japan has brought before the people of the United Kingdom, and the Western World generally, the vast resources of that Empire, and the Government of His Imperial Majesty have made arrangements, financial and ad. ministrative for making their display thoroughly large and representative.
There are many grave reasons, political and commercial, closely affecting the future happiness
It is absolutely necessary that the people of Japan should be bound by the tie of mutually profitable commerce and enlightened self-in- terest with the various British Colonies, and that our allies should realize the extent to which their wants, in the shape of either necessaries or luxuries, can be supplied from the Colonies of the British Empire, the more especially as Japan is by far nearer to many of them than to any other country inhabited by persons of European origin.
For this reason, and for many others, I renture to express a hope that Hongkong will participate in the Japan-British Exhibition upon a scale worthy of the occasion and its wealth and dignity.
I trust shortly to be in a position to forward you the i rospectus and Regulations for the British Section, which will be drawn up with a full realization of the dignity and grandeur of an Exhibition, which will be for many reasons the most important ever held in this country.— I am, &c.,
COMMISSIONER-GENERAL.
It was decided to reply that the Committee did not consider sufficient support would be forthcoming to justify an appeal being made to the public, and that unless the Government were prepared to find -uch funds as might be re- quired, the matter should be permitted to drop.
the
The following reply Was sent to Government :
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, 1st July, 1909. SIR-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23th ultimo (No. 4259/1909) enclosing a copy of a letter from the Commis- sioner General of the Japan British Exhibition which it is proposed to hold in London in 1910, and inquiring whether or not, in the opinion of my Committee, this Colony should participate in the Exhibition.
My Committeo gave this matter their con- sideration at a Monthly Meeting held on the 28th ultimo, and I am now directed to state thet they do not consider that sufficient support would be forthcoming to justify an appeal being made to the public, and that unless the Govern- ment are prepared to find such funds as may be required the matter should be permitted to drop.
1 am to ask you to be good enough to thank His Excellency the Governor for referring this matter to them. I have, &c.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
QUARANTINE IMPOSED ON VESSELS ARRIVING FROM HONGKONG.
The following letter was addressed to the Government:
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
1st July, 1909. SIR. I have the honour to request that you will be so good as to place the following before His Excellency the Governor.
Of the 120 cases of Bubonic Plague reported to date for the year 1909, 83 occurred in the Kowloon Peninsula and a great many of these in districts far removed from the Shipping. Six cases were imported from outside the Colony. It is recognised that the plague season practi- cally ends in the early part of July and there were only five cases for the week ending June 26th in the whole Colony.
There seems no adequate reason, therefore, for the imposition of quarantine restrictions by the Port Authorities of Singapore on vessels arriving from Hongkong.
My Committtee suggest, with great respect, that His Excellency the Governor should cable requesting that the restrictions, which in their opinion are unnecessarily hampering Shipping, be removed.-I am, &c.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, Colonial Secretary. The following letter was addressed to the Government:-
Hongkong (hamber of Commerce, 3rd July, 1909. SIR, I am directed by my ommittee to address you on the subject of the Quarantine
-