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I shall have the honour to communicate to your Lordship the full minutes of the discussions as soon as they reach me in printed form. Meanwhile, enclose an extract from the press giving a report of the speeches delivered at the opening of the conference.*
In conclusion, I have great pleasure in drawing your Lordship's attention to the excellent work done by Messrs. Rose and Brett, Commercial Secretaries in Peking and Shanghai respectively.
The efforts of these gentlemen in making the preliminary arrangements, which entailed very arduous work, in conjunction with Mr. Gull, secretary of the Shanghai Chamber, contributed very largely to the success of the conference.
Mr. Rose was elected chairman of the conference in committee, and in the discharge of this duty which required a detailed knowledge of all the subjects under discussion, he displayed. tact and ability deserving of the highest praise.
(Copy to Department of Overseas Trade.)
Enclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c.
R. H. CLIVE
Resolutions of the Conference of British Chambers of Commerce in China and Hong Hong, held in the Supreme Court, Shanghai, November 3–6, 1920.
I. Affiliation with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce in Great Britain.
THAT this conference recommends that the Associated British Chambers in China and Hong Kong be affiliated with the Association of British Chambers of Colamerce in Great Britain.
II. Chihli River Commission.
That this conference resolves to communicate to His Majesty's Minister in P the satisfaction with which it views the work already accomplished by the commission for the improvement of the river system of Chilli, urges the importance of the continuance of the commission, and to this end requests His Majesty's Minister to endeavour to arrange that the necessary steady financial support be accorded either by earmarking a portion of the customs or salt surplus revenues or by such other means as may be conveniently devised.
III. Yang-toze Conservancy.
That as a preliminary to the appointment by the Chinese Government of Conservancy Board to improve the navigation of the Yang-tsze, as recommended in the resolution passed at last year's conference, this conference would strongly urge the nomination of a teclinical commission to make a preliminary study of the whole question with a view to formulating general proposals as to the lines on which this work should be taken in hand.
IV. Manufacturers and Merchants.
That this association, being in the main composed of merchants, many of whom, however, are sole agents for aume of the biggest manufacturers in Great Britain, desires to place on record its anxiety to co-operate in the fullest practicable way with the manufacturers in the advancement of the Empire's commercial and manufacturing
interests.
V. Currency Reform.
That this conference welcomes the indications which the Chinese Government has given of its intention to open a mint in Shanghai, but would emphasise the absolute necessity of the employment of foreign experts with a view to ensuring the production and maintenance of a standard currency capable of replacing sycee.
• Not printed.
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YT China Companies.
That this conference considers it desirable that enquiry be made into the advisability British," or other word or words of of legislation being enacted whereby the word similar import, be appended to the naines of all China companies, present or future, following the word "limited," and that the secretary to the association be instructed to institute these enquiries at as early a date as possible.
VII Tariff Revision.
That this conference desires to express the view that the additional revenue accruing from any revision of the existing import duties should be held in trust until such time as the Chinese Government shall have shown itself capable of maintaining order and protecting trade interests throughout the country.
At the same time it clesires to express the opinion that when the time for such revision shall arise, advantage should be taken of the opportunity so presented to press for the reorganisation of the whole system of taxation of trade in China on the lines suggested in the association's letter of the 21st April, 1920, and that, as a preliminary and practical step in this direction, the Chinese Government be pressed to abolish forthwith the taxation now levied by the Chinese Maritime Customs on all goods carried from one port to another in China.
VIII. Aids to Navigation.
That in view of the fact that the Hong Kong Government has approved the use of diaphones and wireless position-finders as used in European, American and Canadian waters, and intends shortly to install these at the approaches to Hong Kong harbour, this conference is of opinion that China, through the Maritime Customs, should similarly install such aids to navigation on the China coast.
Further, that weather signals and cable communications should also be con- sidered in connection with the wireless position-finders, more especially in view of the recent frequent stoppages of the Swatow-Hong Kong-Shanghai telegraph services, and that a sufficiently powerful wireless installation should be established at Swatow in conjunction with one at Hong Kong at the earliest possible moment to provide telegraphic and wireless communication with Hong Kong and other places, which is at present inadequate.
IX. Copyright.
That in connection with the resolution passed at the last conference, urging the advisability of instituting copyright laws in China, this conference now desires to express the opinion that further representations should be addressed to the Chinese Government with a view to securing its adhesion to the Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works created under the convention signed at Berne on the 9th September, 1886, by the Governments of Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Hayti, Italy, Liberia, Spain, Switzerland and Tunis,
X. Russian and German Concessions at Hankow and Tien-tsin.
This conference views with grave concern the attitude of the Chinese Government, which, in assuming control of areas formerly under foreign jurisdiction, has deprived Treaty Power nationals of their rights in regard to the ownership of land and municipal representation. This conference accordingly urges upon His Majesty's Government the supreme importance of safeguarding to the fullest extent the treaty rights of British subjects residing and doing business in China, and of resisting every encroachment upon these rights. It further urges upon His Majesty's Government the absolute necessity of arriving at a satisfactory understanding with the Chinese Government as to the future administration of these areas on such terms as will ensure that the interests of British property owners and residents shall be in no way prejudiced, and the
and good peace order of the other concessions fully safeguarded.
XI. Disorder in China.
That this conference views with grave alarm the state of unrest and lawlessness prevailing in almost every province in China, and the prevalence of unchecked piracy and brigandage, in which undisciplined troops are frequently the worst offenders. It protests against the utter failure of the Chinese authorities to deal effectively with this deplorable situation, and urges His Majesty's Government to use its utmost
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