Sir,
5.
390
Na
HMA 17 P.M.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong,
/3027
17th May
23 JUN 07
You are no doubt aware that during the past four years the Chambers of Commerce of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tientsin have sent two joint Memorials to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body at Peking urging upon the Foreign Representatives the necessity of directing the attention of the Imperial Chinese Government to the unsatisfactory condition of the currency of the Empire, and the crying need which exists for thorough reform as a first step towards placing the finances of China on a satisfactory footing.
These Memorials were dated respectively 6th August 1903 and 12th September 1904.
In spite of the representations which have repeatedly been made on the subject to the Imperial Government, no real step towards reform has as yet been taken, and these Chambers of Commerce have therefore decided to send a further Memorial to Peking, the draft of which has been agreed upon.
I now beg to hand you a copy of this Memorial, already signed here and which has now been forwarded to Shanghai for signature.
A copy of the Memorial will also be sent direct to each Foreign Ministry at Peking.
It is understood that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government has already taken up the question of currency reform, and I have now the honour, on behalf of this Chamber, to bring this matter to your attention.
THE HON. A. M. THOMSON,
COLONIAL SECRETARY.