would be likely to have trade of this Colony.
In August last a letter dated 16th addressed to the China Association by direction of Lord Kimberley it is stated that the commercial clauses of the Treaty had been discussed in consent with the Board of Trade and that effort had been spared to secure the interest of British trade. The capacity of the Refineries here is not less than 25,000 tons of Raw Sugar annually of value of £3,500,000, however by this means represents the trade involved, as large quantities of coals, stores, re-imported in connection with the business, which with the sugar imported and exported aggregates between 800,000 and 900,000 annually, while large sums are paid in wages to the European and native workmen employed at the respective factories. It has been shown above that this most important industry will be seriously prejudiced when the revised Tariff comes into force, and the statement therefore efforts have been spared to secure the interests of British Trade appears to be irreconcilable with the manifest indifference displayed towards the most important manufacturing interest of Hong-Kong.
We therefore beg that your Chamber will take such steps as it may deem most desirable to represent in the proper quarter the discriminating effect of the new Treaty against the large