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A very interesting and valuable report by our Secretary, Dr. DENNYS, on this place, and the only misfortune is that the port was opened so late in the last season, that there have not been many opportunities of proving its capabilities, but I think we can safely say with this report that we may look for some improvement in the trade there in the coming year. Then, as to the opening of Pakhoi, that certainly is a concession to the wishes of a number of people in this Colony, but I do not think we can say much about it until something more is known about the place. As to the telegraphic tariffs, I regret to say our efforts have not resulted in any actual reduction of charges. Then we come to the question of the establishment of a Chinese Government Mint. There was a very full report of the transactions of this Chamber at the meeting called to consider the subject, and I do not think there is much more to be said about it. As to postal rates, I think this Chamber ought to congratulate itself and the community generally on the satisfactory position to which this matter has been brought. We hope very soon to be receiving and despatching letters at very much reduced postage compared to what we have been in the habit of paying for years. As regards Reuter's telegrams, in this I hope we shall see improvement. I am sure the Chamber ought to feel indebted to the Sub-committee, who had a number of interviews with Reuter's Agent and put the matter on a footing which we think will prove satisfactory. I do not think I have anything else to remark on, except the state of the funds. This, I think, you will admit is very satisfactory. In spite of the fact that we have lost several of our members, after deducting the expenses of Dr. DENNYS in his visit to Hainan, and a sum paid for another matter, we are $164 better off than we were at this time last year, and, as I understand from Dr. DENNYS, the demand for the circular goes on increasing. I now move the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
Mr. KAHN seconded.
Mr. WELSH wished to make an explanation with regard to a matter in the report under the head of "Establishment of a Chinese Government Mint.” It said, "After debate, a resolution was carried, with only two dissentients that the Chamber declined to make any recommendation in the matter of a Mint to be established under the authority of the Chinese Government.” From what Dr. DENNYS had told him he understood that the report might be technically correct, but as he was one of the dissentients referred to, he wished to say that he did not object to the resolution on its merits, but simply did not vote for it because he wished his own motion to be carried.
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The CHAIRMAN said he thought that could be made right.
Mr. WELSH. Then with regard to the Blockade, I think you said just now that one of the gentlemen called repeatedly for facts, and in the present report it states that official documents which have been received amply prove the correctness of the statements put forward. A great many of them do this, but the one point on which I specially called for facts was the annihilation of the trade of Hongkong. Not a single fact has been produced to show that the trade is being annihilated; on the contrary, it is increasing.
The CHAIRMAN.-I think you are confounding the public meeting with the meeting of this Chamber. It has never been said here that the trade is being annihilated.
Mr. WELSH.-I beg your pardon; I have misunderstood you.
The CHAIRMAN-I did not refer to you specially,
Mr. WELSH-Oh, I am glad to hear that; I thought it referred to me. There were annoyances and vexations, and I never objected to the statement of them.
On proposition of the Chairman, it was then put to the meeting that the report and statement of accounts be accepted. This was seconded by Mr. KAHN, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. BELILIOS then moved: "That this Chamber do protest against Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON being appointed as a member of the Blockade Commission under the Chefoo Convention, and that a copy of the minutes embodying this protest, together with the annual report of the Chamber for 1876, be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor.
Mr. NELSON.-I will second that with pleasure. There is very little known yet as to what is going to be done in the matter, but I think there is no doubt, although we have no official information on the subject, that it is intended to appoint Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON on the Commission. Whether Sir BROOKE will accept the position or whether he will not, is a matter I
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a very interesting and valuable report by our Secretary, Dr. DENNYS, on this place, and the only misfortune is that the port was opened so late in the last season, that there have not been many opportunities of proving its capabili ties, but I think we can safely say with this report that we may look for some improvement in the trade there in the coming year. Then, as to the opening of Pakhoi, that certainly is a concession to the wishes of a number of people in this Colony, but I do not think we can say much about it until something more is known about the place. As to the telegraphic tariffs, I regret to say our efforts have not resulted in any actual reduction of charges. Then we come to the question of the establishment of a Chinese Govern- ment Mint. There was a very full report of the transactions of this Chamber at the meeting called to consider the subject, and I do not think there is much more to be said about it. As to postal rates, I think this Chamber ought to congratulate itself and the community generally on the satisfactory posi tion to which this matter has been brought. We hope very soon to be re- ceiving and despatching letters at very much reduced postage compared to As regards Router's what we have been in the habit of paying for years. telegrams, in this I hope we shall see improvement. I am sure the Chambor ought to fool indebted to the Sub-committee, who had a number of interviews with Reater's Agent and put the matter on a footing which we think will prove satisfactory. I do not think I have anything else to remark on, exonit the state of the funds. This, I think, you will admit is very satisfactory. In spite of the fact that we have lost several of our members, after deduct- ing the exponses of Dr. DENNYS in his visit to Hainan, and a sum paid for another matter, we are $164 better off than we were at this time last year, and, as I understand from Dr. DENNYS, the demand for the circular goes ou increasing. Inow move the adoption of the report and accounts as prosented.
Mr. KAHN seconded.
Mr. WELSH wished to mako an explanation with regard to a matter in the report under the head of "Establishment of a Chinese Government Mint.” It said, "After debate, a resolution was carried, with only two dissentients that the Chamber declined to make any recommendation in the matter of a Mint to be established under the authority of the Chinese Government.” From what Dr. DENNYS had told him he understood that the report might be technically correct, but as he was one of the dissentients referred to, he wished to say that he did not object to the resolution on its merits, but simply did not vote for it because he wished his own motion to be carried.
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The CHATEMAN said he thought that could be made right.
Mr. WELSH. Then with regard to the Blockado, I think you said just now that one of the gentlemen called repeatedly for fucts, and in the present report it states that official documents which have been roccived amply prove the correctness of the statements put forward. A great many of them do this, but the one point on which I specially called for facts was the annihila- tion of the trade of Hongkong. Not a single fact has been produced to show that the trade is being annihilated; on the contrary, it is increasing.
The CHAIRMAN.-I think you are confounding the public meeting with the meeting of this Chamber. It has never been said here that the trade is being annihilated.
Mr. WELSH.-I beg your pardon; I have misunderstood you.
The CHAIRMAN-I did not refer to you specially,
Mr. WELSH-Oh, I am glad to hear that; I thought it referred to mo. There were annoyances and vexations, and I never objected to the statement of thein.
On proposition of the Chairman, it was then put to the meeting that the report and statement of accounts be accepted. This was seconded by Mr. KARN, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. BELILIOS then moved: "That this Chamber do protest against Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON being appointed as a member of the Blockade Commission under the Chefoo Convention, and that a copy of the minutes embodying this protest, together with the annual report of the Chamber for 1876, be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor.
Mr. NELSON.-I will second that with pleasure. There is very little known yet as to what is going to be done in the matter, but I think there is no doubt, although we have no official information on the subject, that it is intended to appoint Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON on the Commission. Whether Sir BROOKE will accept the position or whether he will not, is a matter I
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