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The London Metal Exchange 15600
STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT.
EVB/ACN.
379
REG APR22
Whittington Ave were
London, E.C.3.
31st. MARCH, 1922.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
Downing Street, S. W. 1.
Sir,
I am instructed by the Directors of this Exchange to solicit the assistance of the Secretary of State in obtaining early information concerning the shipments of tin from Hong Kong.
Since this Department was instituted two years ago, information on this subject has been obtained monthly by telegraph through the good offices of a well-known firm of merchants with representatives in Hong Kong, When this arrangement was made, it was stated by these representatives that the figures of shipments from Hong Kong were officially published about the 7th of the month. They should, therefore be received in this country about the 10th. While occasionally they have been received as early as this, they have more usually arrived at any time after that up to the 16th.
Partly for this reason, it has not been possible to publish this Department's monthly sheet of statistics (two copies of the current issue are enclosed for information) until the middle of the month.
For the purposes, however, of the current dealings of the market information loses the greater part of its value to members of the Exchange unless it can be published promptly. My Directors, therefore, are extremely anxious, if possible, to secure a much earlier publication of the monthly statistica, which are distributed simultaneously to all members for their benefit and that of the metal trade generally, To this end it is essential that information as to the shipments of tin from Hong Kong, in any given month, should be received in this office not later than the 3rd of the following month,
I am, accordingly, to inquire whether the Secretary of State could cause inquiry to be made of the Hong Kong Goverment as to the possibility of making a special arrangement, whereby
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