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subscribing half the capital of $200,000 put into the
venture.
According to Mr. Fung,Mr. Chou
retired from the business on the 31st. December, 1904, by
which time there had been a loss of capital of $46,343.98
each, and each partner's share in the balance was according
-ly reduced to $53,656.02. For this share Mr. Fung states
he paid $50,000 to Mrs. Chau on February 11th., 1905, at
her husband's request and still owes the balance. There
were on hand at the date of dissolution of partnership
various stocks of coal of which one at Fati consisted then
of over 43,000 tons. On the 28th. January, 1905, this
stock, reduced to about 40,000 tons was mortgaged by Mr.
Fung to the National Bank of China, Limited, for a sum of
$200,000 the mortgage being registered at the British
Consulate-General in Canton on the 11th. February and the
coal,in accordance with its terms, placed in the hands of
Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Company, Agents of the National
Bank which granted Mr. Fung delivery orders from time to
time for various quantities against proportionate payments.
On the 4th. September, Chou Tung
Sheng was appointed by Imperial Edict Chinese Minister to Belgium