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Transit Letter 3935.
REC2
REG 6 JUN 16
From: China Export, Import & Bank Co., Hamburg.
To:
China Export, Import & Bank Co., Kobe, Japan.
EAST ASIATIC UNION.
Communications from Herr G. Wieler for the Meeting on January 19th of the German firms established in Hong Kong with reference to the departure of these firms from Hong Kong.
AVER
13A 1916
FORFIGH
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In January of the year 1915 notices have been issued from the Foreign Office that it would be an impossibility for German firms to return to Hong Kong in consequence of the regulations laid down by the English authorities there during the War. The German Government would like to direct your attention to the possibility of further development of business in South China by the acquisition through colonisation of an independent
The settlement in Canton, in order to clear the way there, question now turns on whether the firms established till now in Hong Kong are willing to abandon that place completely for the Future and to choose Canton as the centre of German Commerce. Among the important places in South China there is nardly another which can be considered, for on account of the deficient water communication, and the isolating mountains near the coast, neither Amoy nor Swatow are in as close connection with the interior of China, while Canton situated in the plain of the Pearl River, possesses already in its three branches, the West, North and East Rivera, a very convenient and much frequented trade route into the region of South China chiefly in question, and in addition there will befão distant period a railway con- nection with Hankow by means of which districts lying still further to the west will be open to trade.
The
Canton has also the great advantage of being established for very many years as an important metropolis of trade. business wich is done in Hong Kong amounts, as far as the import of goods is concerned, to scarcely of the value of that which arrives at this place for the credits of Canton merchants and in what relates to exports, these come, as far as arranged via Hong Kong exclusively from the districts which are dependent on Canton and corresponding to those directed by Canton merchants,
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The Chines business money which circulates in Hong Kong comes almost exclusively from Canton as a great part of the chief direction of Hong Kong business affairs is conducted from this place.
Naturally the possibility of entry and departure of goods and products, without the necessity of unloading them in Hong Until it is possible for Kong, is of decisive significance. large steamshins to reach the town of Canton, it will be necessary for these to go to Whampoa.
The water communications of the Pearl River are of such a nature that from the entry from the sea to the so-called second bar, there is a death of water of at least 24 to 30 English feet, and in many daees it is more than this.
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