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is likely to be indefinitely postponed. The Committee of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce therefore consider it necessary to bring this question specially to the notice of Your Excellency.
As Your Excellency is aware, a very considerable trade, direct with Canton, centres in Haichow, and my Committee are strongly of opinion that in the interests of this Colony the early opening of Haichow to foreign trade is a matter of pressing necessity. This urgency is intensified when we remember that when Hongkong is linked to Canton by a line of rail, the fact that Haichow is an open port will not only add largely to the trade of this Colony, but will serve as an additional safeguard against competition arising through the development (by improvements in water or railway transit) of possible rival ports in our vicinity, to the detriment of this Colony and to British interests at large.
As is well known, the Haichow district is populous and wealthy, the country is fertile, and if brought into more direct communication will no doubt be rapidly developed, while it may well serve as a producing ground for cattle and agricultural produce generally, required to supply the ever-increasing population of this Colony.
A main road from Haichow connects that City with the shores of Bias Bay, and the opening of the town cannot fail to confer great benefit upon Hong Kong.
The importance to the trade of Hongkong which the opening of the above three ports entails must be our excuse for having addressed Your Excellency at such length.
I have etc.,
(sd.) G. A. Hewett,
Chairman.