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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1936.
"FORGET THE DEPRESSION !”
future, the rules are published we shall have a complete code for all classes of steamships and launches, a convenience which shipowners and shipbuilders have long nwalt- ed.
Publication' will consummate several years' work by a Special Technical Committee, to the mem- bers of which acknowledgment is due for their very onerous labours In this connection I would special- ly mention Mr. F. W. James, Super- intendent Engineer of The China Navigation Company, who has been the leading spirit of the Technical Committee from its inception in 1927. Shipping firms affected by the new rules are greatly indebted to Mr. James for contributing so freely of his special knowledge and experience. I must also add that in these discussions the greatest possible assistance has been re- ceived from the Government Marine Surveyor and the Senior Ship Surveyor.
In 1935, the Colony exported over two million dollars worth of canvas and rubber shoes, mostly the pro- duct of local factories. About half of this quantity went to Great Britain. The trade, it is interest-i ing to note, has undergone con- siderable change since the intro- duction 01 Imperial Preference after the Ottawa Conference. Im- parts into Great Britain from for- eign countries have decreased very much whilst those from Canada and other British countries (prin- cipally Hong Kong) have increased though they are very far from re- placing the total former foreign importation. Statistics of internal production are not available, but it is a fair inference that Home manufacturers have benefited-as well as ourselves and Canada-as a result of Imperial Preference.
PREFERENCE' REQUIREMENTS You will see from the Annual Report that the somewhat elabor-
ate costings system, invoked by the
United
has Kingdom Customs satisfied them that Hong Kong manufactured shoes comply with Preference requirements as to per- centage of British content. This system is no longer enforced but. Instead, the Customs require an assurance that nothing but Empire manufactured canvas, and rubber officially certified to have been pro- "duced within the British Empire, is used in the Hong Kong factories, Local Chartered Accountants exer- cise oversight to ensure that this rule is observed.
When these instructions were re- celved, towards the end of 1935, problems arose as to obtaining official certificates of origin in respect of rubber already imported from Brish "Malaya, and as to the best procedure for comp'ying with Customs requirements re- The garding future shipments matter was of great urgency be- trade. this is a seasonal cause and manufacturers and exporters with buyers commitments had amounang to something like a million dollars' worth of goods. All shoes arriving in Great Britain after 31st January had to contain nothing but cerad rubber and
canvas, and, more than that,
(Continued from Page 7)
towards promoting the Colony's might very well frame a law that trade.
MEMBERSHIP
Members" who have resigned during the year out-number those who have joined, with the result that the surplus of income over expenditure is very narrow. It is surprising how many people sup- 'pose that a Chamber of Commerce is a semi-omcial institution, receipt of a
Government
in
grant.
the next man who mentions "de- pression" will be deported or have his salary cut. I sympathised with His Excellency the Governor when he arrived from an area"which has suffered much more severely, than we have. The first word that greet- ed him was "Depression" I'would prefer that His Excellency should have been informed that the mer- chants of Hong Kong had cut their coat according to their cloth and As you know, we have no other
had got used to wearing a shorter sources of income than members'
jacket; and consequently were subscriptions and fees for issuing optimistic. All that remained was
etc. A origin, certificates of
an ob- Chamber of Commerce is vious necessity in a business com- munity such as this: if it did not exist, various sections of the busi- continually ness world would be having to form special committees to handle particular questions as they arose.. The subscription is a trifling item compared with the other overhead expenses of a large One would like to see the firm. few substantial firms which are come for- not already members ward and give us their support. This would keep our balance or the right side and be a great en- couragement to those of us who, on practically every working day o the year, give up some part of our time to volunte ry work for the benent of the trading munity as a whole.
com-
Apart from questions to which reference is made in the Annual Report, the Committees of the. Chamber considered a number o subjects which is it necessary, at confiden- this stage to treat as tial
We have lost a number of our older members since our last meeting.
of Mr. Gordon, Mackie and Sir William Shenton were publicly acknow- ledged at the time of their retire-
Mr. Plummer and
ment.
The
services
M:
for the Government, to follow suit, If that had been done, the word "depression," and all that it im- plies, might have died a natural death long ago. Continually harp- ing upon it makes people believe that it really exists, and destroys" confidence. There is still plenty of money in South China and in the Colony. Provided confidence is maintained that money will de available for business.
OPTIMISTIC VIEW
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In support of an optimistic view I would point out that, in recent years redundant stocks have been moved and the market is in a post. tion to buy. True, certain chan- nels of trade have been diverted, but versatility is one of the quali- tles which the merchant has to Masson, K. S. Morrison, G. W. Se-, Commissioner "Co-opted member). cultivate.. and when one business shows signs of disappear- ing he looks for another.
line, ofwell and I W. Shewan.
Mr. N. M. Currie moved and Mr. Wong Ol-kut seconded that the High taxation in China is cer- election of the following new mem- the general tainly one of our handicaps and I bers, approved by hope we shall, not see such in committee since last annual meet- creases of taxation in this Colonyang, be confirmed:-East Asiatic Co. as will amount to a hindrance to Ltd., Maison F. Mathieu, Utoomal
further duties On The trade.
and Assudamal, D. Chellaram. alcohol and tobacco recently im- curtail éon- posed, are likely to
THOSE PRESENT sumption to a point which com- pels an importer to consider whe-
Members present were:- ther it is any longer worth his
The Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell (Chair while to carry on a trade which
man) presided. supported by the
|
Insist on
Gordon's
DRY GIN
DESTELLETY LONDON
THE
GIN
THAT MADE
THE COCKTAIL FAMOUS
The heart of a good cocktail.
(Mr. T. A Mitchell); Messrs. Mac- kinaon, Mackenzie and Co., (Mr. M. T, Johnson); The Marcont Inter- national Marine Communication Co., Ltd, (Mr. J. P. Dawson); Messrs. Maxim and Co., (Mr. J. A. V. Ribeiro); Messrs. A. B. Moulder and Co., Ltd., (Mr. Wong Of Kuz and Mr. Fan Chi Kuent; Messrs. Peterson and Co., (Mr. H. Arfas); Messrs. Reiss, Massey and Co., Ltd., (Mr. A. T. Lay); Messrs. Robertson, Wilson and Co., Ltd., (Mr. G. W. Sewell): Messrs. Alex Ross and Co. (China). Ltd.. (Mr. W. W. Mc- Kenzie)); The Royal Insurance Co Ltd. (M. H B Neve); Messrs. Roza Brothers (Mr. C. A. da Roza); Meners. David Sassoon and Co.,. Ltd., (Mr. R. Stock); Messrs. 8be- wan, Tomes and Co., (Mr. L W. Shewan); The Union Waterbost
Dodwell and Co., Ltd., (The Hon. Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell); Messrs. Fung Tang" (Mr. Wong Tak Kwong); Messrs. Gibb Livingston and Co., Ltd., Mr. M. T Johnson and Mr. N. M. Currie);, Messrs. Gilman and Co., Ltd., (Mr. C. The following members were pre- Blaker); The Hong Kong and sent:-Mr. D. G. Glenn Allen, Dr. China Gas Co., Ltd., (Mr. H. E. R. H Kotewall, CMG., Mr. M. P. Sione);The Hong Kong Electric Talati, Messrs. J.. M. Alves and Co., Co., Ltd., (Mr. V. Borby); The Hong Lid., (Mr. A. Alves); The Asiatic Kong and Shanghai Banking 'Cor- Petroleum Co. (South China) Ltd., poration, (Mr. V. M" Grayburn); (Hon Mr. W.H. Boll); Messrs. Brad-The Hong Kong Tramways Ltd, ley and Co., Ltd., (Mr. K. S. Morri- Mr. F. H. Glover and W. J. Sim- son); The British-American Tobac- ca Co. (China) Ltd., (Mr. E. O. Drake and Mr. F. Stafford-Smith); Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, (Mr. J. R. Masson), The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. (Mr. A Brearley); The China Provident Loan and Mortgage Co. Ltd., (Mr.
and Master, (Mr. G. G. N. Tin- Messra. Utoomal and Assudamal Committee. The Hon. Mr. Stanley D. L. King); The Dairy Farm Ice
and Cold Storage Co., Ltd.. (Mr. A. | son); The Kallan Mining Admin Co., (Mr. P. V. Aswani); Messrs. H. Dodwell, The Hon. Mr. J. J.
Wallem and Co., (Mr. R. Johannes- Parerson. Messrs. C. Blaker, P. S.Stevenson): Messrs. Davie Boag tatration, (Mr. W. Wright): Messrs.
sen); Messrs. Harry, Wicking" and and Co., Ltd., (Mr. W. A. Stewart); | Ed, Keller and Co., Ltd., (Mr. E Cassidy, V. M. Grayburn, M. T
Co., Ltd., (Mr. H. Owen Hughes); Johnson, J. R. Masson, K. S. Mor- Messrs. B. J. David and Co., (Mr. Kem); Messrs, Lowe, Bingham and rison, G. W. Sewell, I W. Shewan Frank Austin): Messrs." Deacons. Matthews, (Mr. A. Ritchie); Messrs. Messrs. 8. T. Willamson and Co. and Mr. R. H. Scott HB.M. Trade (Mr. H-J. Armstrong); Messrs. W. R. Loxley and Co. (China) Ltd., '(Mr. 8. T. Williamson).
Knight have also left the Colony costs an initial licence fee of $1.- following members of the General on retirement. These gentlemen | c00 a year.
also rendered very
valuable ser-
As a merchant, I welcome the in-
Vices. MI. Plummer was Chair auguration of the managed cur- man of the Chamber in 1932 and rency in that it brought exchange Chairman of the Piece Goods Sub-rates to a lower and more economic
level
committee
Mr. for several years.
The lower the exchange the bet- Knight gave valuable advice on was the
With ter it is for our exports. shipping questions and
more goods being exported from representative of the Chamber on the Council and Finance Commit-South Chinu through Hong Kong tee of the University.
THANKS EXPRESSED
General
I might add that the committee a few days ago gave a lunch in honour of another old member, Mr. J. Owen Hughes, on his departure from the Colony. Mr. Hughes was Chairman of the Chamber in 1924 and our, repre- sentative on the Legislative Coun cil from 1927 to 1931.
33
the people in the hinterland have the wherewithal to buy goods from abroad. It might be argued that with a high dollar they will pay less for such imported goods, but, If they cannot sell their own pro- ducts, they have no money with which to take advantage of that opportunity.
INCREASE IN POSTAL RATES One hears rumours of further in- I would like, on behalf of mem- creases in the postal rates. I am
generally. bers
to express
of the opinion that the Chamber my gratefu thanks to the Genern! of Commerce should mcdiately Committee and the various Sub-protest against any increase, hav-
time
to and in regard
the fact that Committees for the
cosis a deal thought they have so freely given. already it
from letter post a In this connection, special ac-
England than knowledgment is due to the Lega: Korig to Sub-Committee which has been England to Hong Kong. called upon during the year to an postal rates are doubtless imposed with the object of obtaining a con- tribution towards the general re- venue of the Colony. The mer- chants' complaint against this met-
exceptional extent and has beer asked to give its advice on several
M Mr. M. intricate problems.
to
more Hong
from High
during the period of their manu- Watson, who was co-opted in con- facture nothing but certited ma- nection with one of these, has hod of raising revenue is, however, terials could be used in the fac-rendered us specially valuable ser- that it amounts in effect to a busi- ...tories. Do not let me be mis-
vice. The secretariat has Co- ness tax, and discriminates against
understood: it was not suggested operated with its usual efficiency. a comparatively small section of
that the materia's and stock were
not British: 1 was merely that they were not all officially certi
די.
fied.
There was no time to engage in a triangular correspondence be- tween, ourselves, the Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Gov- ernment. Authorities in British Malaya Your Committee. there-
and Mr. Key has put in a lot of hard, sound work, particularly in connection with the rubber shoe question. I am sure you wil wish to join me in expressing apprecia- tion of his work,
il
the community..
I cordially endorse the Chair- man's remarks regarding the effec- tive steps taken to clear up ques- tions arising out of United King- dom Customs requirements respect- ing rubber shoes. It is hoped that, with the principal materials of manufacture British-namely, the rubber and the canvas Hong Kong will be lett in undisturbed posses-
I now move the adoption of the Report and Accounts for the year 1935, and when this has been seconded I shall be glad to answer. fore, at the request of the mer- to the best of my ability, any chants concerned-and at their question which any member may sion of a share in this useful ex- expense-authorised an immediate desire to ask.
visit to Singapore by the Secre- tary who went here as the con- fidential representative of, each
firm in the business, with au- thority to discuss with their, sup-
port trade.
The Chairman has already ex- pressed thanks to the members of
SECONDER'S SPEECH the General Committee and sub-
our
With these few remarks I have much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the Report and Ac- counts for the year 1935.
committees of the Chamber; also pliers the detatis at all past pur- In proposing the adoption of the to the secretariat Members gen- chases of rubber. Mr. Key report and accounts, Mr. T. A. Miterally will desire to join most approached, on arrival, the Co-chell (Messrs. W. R. Loxley and Co., hearilly in those acknowledgments.
I would like also to express lonial Secretary-now our present Chinis, Ltd.,) said:—" Governor who gave him every Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, very grateful thanks and apprecía- facility towards the prosecution of I am honoured by the invitation to tion to Mr. Bell for the arduous his enquiries. The Registrar of second the adoption of the rework be has done as Chairman for Statistics who is also the Rubber port and accounts of the Cham-the past year and as our repre- Controller-was most pronipt and ber of Commerce for the year 1933. sentative on the Legislative Council helpful; the Singapore Chamber Before doing so, I desire to as for a much longer period. of Commerce and the rubber ex- sociate the general body of the porting ma in Singapore ren-members with the Chairman's re- dered every possible assistance.ference to the deeply lamented As a result, the Secretary was death of his Late Majesty King able to return in two or three days George the Fifth.. with the whole position clarified. Between the years 1914 and 1918 The Customs Authorities in Lon- anyone who chanced to be in don have since latinated that France continually heard the ex- they approve of the arrangements pression, "C'est la Guerre," "C'est
la Guerre was given as the reason, seconded by Mr. A. Stock, the made.
a great satisfaction to son for everything. In Hong Kong, following committee was elected "It was your Committee and I am sure of late years, we have, been too Mesars. WH Bell, 8. H. Dodwell, will be to members generally much addicted, in my opinion, to J., 3. Paterson, C. Blaker, P. 8. abe to another hard worked phrase "It is Cassidy, V. M. Grayburn, A. W. that the Chamber, was render this piece of special service the Depression." The Government Hughes, M. T. Johnson, J. R.
NEW COMMITTEE
On the proposal of Mr. A. Steven-
if
mons); Mesars, J. D. Hutchison and Co., (Mr. P. S. Cassidy); The Im- .perial Chemical Industries Ltd, (Mr. R. D. Gillespie); Messrs. Jar- dine. Matheson and Co., Ltd., (The) Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson); The Java-
(Mr. H. China-Japan Lijn. Rouffer); Messrs. Johnson, Btokes Co., Ltd. (Mr. A. C. I Bowker);
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