CO882-6 — Page 533

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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to Peking, was good enough to agree to meet the Committee of the Chamber and in the report will be found the address presented to him which dealt with a number of important questions. Sir Ernest Satow fully discussed these various matters and expressed his desire to do all possible to further the interest of our trade with China and his readiness to give full consideration to such representations as the Chamber might make to him.

Last summer the Viceroy of Canton being anxious to increase the revenue of the Province endeavoured to revive the illegal taxation on foreign opium attempted in the previous year by his predecessor. The excuse for this impost being one very generally put forward by the native officials when additional funds are required, viz., the payment of the war indemnity. A telegram was at once despatched to II.B.M.'s Chargé d'Affaires at Peking protesting against this proposed violation of treaty, and, thanks to the prompt action of Mr. Townley, and the British Consul- General at Canton, the tax has been "suspended," but it is very evident that it will be necessary for the Chamber to continue to keep a careful watch upon our tradal relations with China in order to prevent the officials from levying illegal taxes when pressed for funds. (Applause.)

As mentioned at our last annual meeting the question of the compulsory adoption of an official code vocabulary drawn up by the Telegraph Companies has been again before us and a telegram was therefore sent to the London Chamber of Commerce protesting on behalf of this Colony against this proposal. The objections raised have been so universal among business communities that it is to be hoped this vexed question has been finally disposed of.

With regard to the currency question, since our last meeting the decision of the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been given, which is to the effect that " it was out of the question to entertain the idea of adopting a gold standard for Hong Kong while China retained her silver standard." As a first step therefore towards a reform of the currency in China a joint memorial from the Chambers of Commerce of Tient- sin, Shanghai, and Hong Kon, as been forwarded to the Diplomatic Body at Peking urging that no further time be lost in providing a uniform currency for China, and the placing of the Provincial Mints under the control of the Central Government, but it is with regret that we find up to the present nothing further has been done in this direction.

From time to time attention has been directed to the Crown Agent system, and some correspondence has passed on this subject between this Chamber and that of Ceylon. In order to more clearly form an opinion on the matter a series of tions was drawn up and presented by our Representative at the Legislative Council. ques- While the Committee are not prepared to say that it would not be possible to effect improvements in the working of the system, they are of opinion that it is decidedly to the advantage of the Colony that the Crown Agent system should be continued.

During the year under review several questions relating to the shipping interests of the Colony have engaged our attention. While it is admitted that regulations are necessary for dealing with vessels bringing explosives into the harbour, the Com- mittee cannot but consider that the manner of enforcing the regulations constitute an unreasonable and vexatious restriction on the trade of the port, and that the regu- lations might with perfect safety be modified. After considerable correspondence some slight concession was obtained from the Government and it now remains to be seen whether the result will prove satisfactory.

The question of medical inspection of vessels is an old one, having been dealt with by the Committee in 1887 and again in 1901. After giving the new scheme a fair trial the Committee are unanimously of opinion that the time has now arrived when the posts of Health Officer of the Port and his assistants should be held by officials devoting their entire time to the work, to the exclusion of private practice; in fact that the system should be here adopted which now obtains in many British Ports where the number of entrances and clearances is far smaller than in Hong Kong, which now ranks as one of the largest shipping ports in the world. The Coni- mittee intend to again address the Government on this subject, and trust that, on further consideration, the reasonableness of their request will be admitted. They feel convinced that in this matter they can rely on the support of all those members of the Chamber who are directly interested in shipping. (Applause.)

We are glad to be able to record that the Government has, after considerable correspondence, agreed to effect certain improvements in the signalling of storm

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warnings, and trust that the practical experience which will be obtained during the approaching typhoon season may show that the change effected will result in all that has been hoped for it.

One other point affecting the shipping requires to be dealt with. I refer to the Imbecile Immigrants Ordinance. This Bill as originally put before the Legislative Council was of such a nature as to give rise to the greatest uneasiness on the part of those whose business it is to protect the interests of shipowners trading with the Colony. A protest against this Ordinance was unanimously signed by the shipping companies here represented, and while the Bill was not abandoned, as we had hoped might be the case, still very important modifications were obtained in committee, and we can only regret that the efforts of our representative in this direction were not more successful. I consider it necessary to specially direct attention to this Bill, as the whole prosperity of Hong Kong so largely depends upon the facilities and encourage- ment given to shipping to visit the port. I fear that this fact is sometimes lost sight of and that from time to time attempts at legislation are suggested, and not infre- quently carried out, calculated to impose undue restrictions and expenditure on the shipping, which in the aggregate form such a tax, either by loss of time or by actual expenditure, as to tend to discourage shipping from visiting the Colony. It must be remembered that the position of Hong Kong as a distributing centre is not impreg- nable. This is a point which cannot be too strongly urged.

Turning to questions of a wider interest which still closely concern the welfare of our Colony, I would refer to the opening of Kongmoon as a treaty port, and the establishment of a number of ports of call on the West River to the benefit of the large and increasing native passenger traffic. It is but right that acknowledgment should be made of the manner in which the officials of the Imperial Maritime Customs have endeavoured to prevent difficulties arising in connection with the work of ing this port and also of the able assistance rendered by Mr. Fox, H.B.M.'s Consul. open- (Applause.)

While on the question of new treaties I would also mention that the Committee of the Chamber has addressed the British Minister at Peking with regard to the advantage which would accrue to the Colony through the opening of Waichow to foreign trade. You will recollect that Article VIII., of the Shanghai Treaty of 1902 provided for the opening of this city, but as it will probably be some time before this section of that Treaty becomes operative the Committee consider efforts should be made to have Waichow opened without further delay. I would add that in our opinion the Treaty port area 'should also include the sister city of Kwaishin. The question of piracy on the West River continues to be one requiring constant attention, though I am glad to be able to add that during the past year complaints of this nature have not been so frequent as in the past. During the last few weeks however there have been some cases of piracy and it is evident that the local Chinese officials have never attempted to seriously deal with the evil. The only means of finally disposing of this question is to break up the piratical villages the positions of which are per- fectly well known to the Chinese authorities.

Although considerable time has elapsed since the question of the removal of the barriers in the Canton River was last dealt with officially by this Chamber, we understood privately that matters were progressing favourably and that before long the barriers would be removed. hope for improvement no advance has been made by the local Chinese officials. While We regret to find that in this as in other matters of most scrupulously exacting due observance of the terms of the Treaties limiting our relations with China the native officials consistently evade their own obligations whenever possible. The delay in removing the barriers is yet one more instance of their bad faith, and it is to be hoped that the necessary steps will be taken to compel the Chinese to remove these barriers within the time stipulated by treaty. The im- provement in the lighting of the Canton River is another question, which requires attention, and we have reason to believe that the importance of this has not been lost sight of and that steps are being taken both by the Colonial Government and the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs to deal with it. The great increase which has of recent years taken place in the steamer traffic between Hong Kong and Canton renders it more than ever necessary that this improvement should be effected with the least possible delay. (Applause.) Progress with the new Commercial Treaties with China has been slow and the present political situation in the Far East is not calcu- lated to facilitate matters in this respect. The text of the new American and also