10
8
The Committee have remitted to London in the sum of £290.5.5, the contribution received from the Portuguese community of this Colony to the Fund for the relief of the distressed operatives of Lancashire, referred to in the minutes of the proceedings of the General Meeting held on May 26th 1863. Its receipt has been acknowledged with sincere thanks by the Secretary to the Mansion House Committee.
The accounts for the half-year ending the 31st October have been audited by Messrs. Ormiston and Lemann, and are now submitted to the Meeting. (Appendix G.) The Balance at Credit of the Society with the Oriental Bank is $4455.26 and the Deposit $5,000, previously made with the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India &c., remains untouched. Some small expense must be incurred for additional furniture to the rooms now occupied by the Chamber, and which are leased from Mr. Douglas Lapraik at a monthly rental of $65; but apart from that, and notwithstanding the list of Members having been increased by Four during the half-year, the cash Balance is less than last reported by $444.49; and the Committee do not therefore as yet feel themselves in a position to recommend any reduction in the rates of subscription. Increased support alone from the Mercantile body lies the means of lowering the scale.
JAS. J. MACKENZIE,
Chairman.
APPENDIX A.
The Hon. W. H. Alexander Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, to J. J. Mackenzie Esq.,
Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
No. 644.
COLON SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 15th June, 1863.
SIR,-With reference to your interview some days ago with His Excellency The Acting Governor, wherein you were good enough to introduce the representatives of three Indian Firms interested in the Saltpetre trade, I am directed to acquaint you for the information of those Gentlemen, that by the mail since arrived, no advices have been received from His Grace The Secretary of State respecting the Proclamation of 28th February last.
His Excellency has therefore, according to promise, given re-consideration to the article Saltpetre as affected by that Proclamation.
The 5th Clause of Rule 5 of the Tariff annexed to the Treaty of Tientsin, relieves His Excellency of all further difficulty in the matter, and instructions will therefore be issued that any person, who shall produce to the Harbor Master the necessary "Requisition of the Chinese Government" for the import of Saltpetre, shall be allowed to export from this Colony the said article in quantity specified in the said requisition.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your most Obedient Servant.
J. J. Mackenzie Esq., Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, to
The Hon. W. H. Alexander Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, VICTORIA, June 16th, 1863.
SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt yesterday of your letter, No. 644 of that date, acquainting me for the information of the Representatives of the Indian firms interested in the Saltpetre trade, and who with myself had an interview some days ago with His Excellency the Acting Governor, that by the mail since arrived no advices had been received from His Grace the Secretary of State respecting the proclamation of 28th February last and that His Excellency has therefore, according to promise, given re-consideration to the Article Saltpetre as affected by that proclamation. His Excellency's decision being, that the 5th clause of the 5th Rule of the Tariff annexed to the Treaty of Tientsin relieves him from all further difficulty in the matter, and instructions will therefore be issued that any person who shall produce to the Harbour Master the necessary "Requisition of the Chinese Government" for the import of Saltpetre shall be allowed to export from this Colony the said Article in quantity specified in the said requisition.
The contents of your letter now under acknowledgement have been communicated to the parties interested, and they desire respectfully to submit to His Excellency that the Proclamation of February 28th being the only bar to the unlimited import and export of Saltpetre in this, a free, port, they had hoped for a decision on their application for a partial relaxation of its provisions, based on the reasonableness or otherwise of such application, and on the power of His Excellency to grant it:-that the Tariff rules appended to the Treaty of Tientsin are meant exclusively for the regulation of trade in Chinese ports, and for the observance or neglect of them the Authorities of this Island are in no wise responsible; that the rule quoted is not limited in its permission to import Saltpetre to the condition of "requisition from the Chinese Government:" and that were the principle that has influenced His Excellency in his present decision to be adopted as a guide for the future, this port would become a mere outpost of the Chinese Imperial Customs.
I have to add that the Committee of this Chamber fully concur in these views,