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Colonies, on the subject of the Blockade of the Port, and in reply, I am directed to state that a copy of your letter with its enclosure will be forwarded by His Excellency the Governor in due course to the Secretary of State.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed,)
The Honourable PHINEAS RYKIE,
Chairman,
H. E. WODEHOUSE, for the Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 28th July, 1876.
SIR, I am directed to inform you that a despatch has been received from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, in which His Lordship replies to the letter from the Chamber of Commerce, dated the 8th February, on the question of the action of Chinese Revenue Cruizers.
The questions continue to occupy His Lordship's serious attention. It appears to His Lordship that the principal difficulty is to arrive at some understanding with the Chinese Authorities as to the nature and amount of the Duties which they are entitled to levy on native junks trading with Hongkong, without placing the Colony at a disadvantage as compared to other foreign ports.
As regards the steps taken by the Chinese Government for securing the collection of their legitimate revenue, His Lordship has already explained, that they afford no ground for diplomatic remonstrance, and His Lordship cannot hold out to the Chamber of Commerce any hope that the extreme demands which they invite him to urge on this point can be approved of by Her Majesty's Government.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed,) J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
The Honourable PHINEAS RYKIE,
Colonial Secretary.
Chairman,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
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HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 23rd August, 1876.
SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch No. 617 dated 20th ultimo, conveying the reply of H. M. Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies to the letter from this Chamber dated 3rd February, last. The Committee of this Chamber learn with surprise and regret that it is still Lord CARNARVON's opinion that the steps taken by the Chinese Government for the collection of its revenue afford no ground for diplomatic remonstrance. This appears to the Committee to be somewhat at variance with the contents of certain despatches of his Lordship's, communicated by His Excellency the Governor in Council in January last. Besides, it is against these very steps, viz., placing a cordon of cruizers round the Colony, and thus giving opportunities to a swarm of petty collectors and informers of the lowest class to prey upon the Junk Trade of the place, that this Chamber and the Community generally have so vehemently protested.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed,)
P. RYKIE, Chairman.
To the Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.C., Colonial Secretary.
To the Directors of the
Appendix B.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Hongkong, 18th March, 1876.
EASTERN EXTENSION, AUSTRALASIA AND CHINA TELEGRAPH COMPANY, LIMITED.
GREAT NORTHERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
GENTLEMEN, The members of this Chamber having had their attention strongly directed to the existing nature of the Telegraphic tariff recently put in force, it has been resolved to address you upon the subject.
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