HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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I feel that the Government is wise in reverting to the scheme for re-building Government House on the site available at Magazine Gap which is so admirably suited to the purpose. The new Residence, with the completion of the new Motor Road, will be almost as conveniently situated as the present Government House and in much more pleasant surroundings. However, for the convenience of passers-through and residents on the lower levels might I suggest that Your Excellency arrange to have a Visitors Book kept at the Government Offices.
Members naturally listened with interest to the Colonial Secretary's remarks on the subject of aviation. I agree that we must continue to develop Hong Kong as an air port in readiness for the time when China becomes a party to the International Air Convention and thus places herself in a position to derive the incalculable benefits to her progress which will follow upon development of aviation.
In the meantime, I desire to acknowledge the value of the work done by the Postmaster General in effecting air mail con- nections with existing services to Europe.
I would like to say a word on the subject of Empire Preference. Since Hong Kong has been brought within the scope of this scheme there have been distinct signs of improvement in the export trade of the Colony but unfortunately the fillip which the reduced duties have given to certain lines of business has been to a great extent nullified by the difficulty experienced in passing goods through the Customs on their arrival at destination. Merchants have been put to much unnecessary trouble and expense in satisfying the United Kingdom Customs that their goods comply with the conditions under which they benefit from the reduced tariff, that is to say that the finished article is 50 per cent British, either in the form of raw material or labour applied to it in Hong Kong.
If shippers could obtain a Government Certificate that their merchandise is definitely of British origin, the cause of their present grievance would be at once removed. It may be argued that with the existing machinery at their disposal the Government is unable to certify the Goods. If that is the
If that is the case then the Customs at home must be prepared to accept suppliers' declaration of origin, if necessary, supported by a certificate from a recognised Chartered Accountant.
Speaking as the representative on this Council of the Chamber of Commerce, I can unfortunately confirm the Colonial Secretary's observations about the depressed state of the Colony's trade and shipping.
In the general opinion, things are worse than they were during the political agitations of 1925/1926.
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