better for this Colony to have plenty of steamers entering and leaving the port, to say nothing of postal facilities, and as the Colony would not be called upon to pay more than they were paying now under the Postal union, he thought they could not be doing wrong in making some further re- presentations to the Government under the fresh circumstances which had come to light.
AS
The CHAIRMAN said he was not at all of opinion that they would cease to have sou- staut communication between the porta were the subsidy withdrawn. It was un- doubtedly a serious fact for the Government to pay a subsidy for the Yokohama line when the service was so fully performed at present by the steamers from San Francisco and other vessels, and he I did not think there would be any change in The the intentions of the Government. statements in the American papers with re- gard to the stoppage of the American line were not, he imagined, authorised, and were those steamers withdrawn most nndonbtedly the trade would be taken up by others.
Mr KYRIE Baid he thought the Committee might be requested to reconsider their letter and, and it they found it advisable, tu mo- dify or change it.
The CHAIRMAN said be thought that would be quite agreeable to the Committee-to take the letter again into their most Morious consideration,
Mr KYRIE saked Me ver if he would second a motion of the nature he had indicated.
Me McIver replied that be certainly would. He thought there was not much kelihood of the Yokohama line being oon- tinued if the subsidy were withdrawn.
Mr Ryaiz then proposed "That with re- ference to the Postal service between this Port and Yokohama, in view of the action taken by the Yokohama community and other circumstances, the Committee be requested to reconsider their opinion, and, if they can see cause, to modify or alter the
ame.
Mr MoÏVER seconded the motion.
On the motion being put to the meeting, there were three votes for and seven against the motion.
The ORAIRMAN thereupon declared that
the motion was lost.
Mr DEACON drew attention to the para graph in the Report respecting the Stamp Ordinance, and said he moved the resolu non at the last meeting of the Chamber that demand draf.a and cheques payable Lo bearer or order drawn out of the Colony be su jest only to a Stamp of two cents. He should like to know what the Govern-
| meut intended doing.
The CHAIRMAN was understood to say that the Government did not propose tu reduce the value of the stamp in question, And that the Committee had approved of the provisions of the new Ordinance.
MY DRAGON expressed his regret at this, nd said they would find in every British Colony and at Home that the stamp was
uly a penny.
he CHAIRMAN said the Government still had the matter under consideration,
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr LINSTEAD proposed and Me Bottomley Becunded that Mesars. Davis and Company De admitted as members of the Chamber.
Carried unanim usly.
Mr W. H. FoxBEs moved and Mr Kar berg seconded that Mesara, Lee Sing of the si Bling Hong, Lea Tak Cheon of the Sunyse Optum Firm, and Obing sing Yeong of the Tak On Bank be elected members of she Chamber.
The UHAIRMAN said he believed this wa the first time that Chinese had been pro- posed as members of the Chamber. That was a general Chamber of Commerce, and it *ppeared to him that the presence of Chi- nese amongst them might be frequently of considerable advantage. There were mat- ters connected with the Blockade business, Stamp Acts, and other important matters, upon which they might be able to furnish
great deal of useful information. This was, however, the first time that Chinese ad been proposed, and he thought there. fore their election was a matter to which due consideration should be given.
Mr MACEWAN asked if the proposed members were known to be partners in the Hongs mentioned in connection with their games.
The CHAIRMAN said he had no doubt the proposer and secondor bad satisfied them selves on that point. Be knew nothing about them.
Mr LINSTEAD thought the Chinese should enter the Chamber un.er the nong names and not as individuals. There were con- stant changes going on in the native songs, who were partnera and they never knew and who were not.
Mr RYRIE agreed with Mr Linaten's de thought the Chinese should remarks.
be called upon to enter the Chamber in the aame of their firma.
Mr LINSTEAD said that at present they had no knowledge as to who the individasis of firms were; such information was entire- ly kept from them. The members of the native firms were not advertised in and out, like foreigners. He thought they ought to enter the Chamber with the full responsi- bility attached to the Bong name.
Mr ARNHOLD agreed with what had been said on this subject. He had personally no knowledge of the individuals proposed; but the names of the Hongs only were known to him.
The CHAIRMAN said the matter might be left for cousideration of the Committee, that body having power to elest them auder the Hong name, such election to be confirmed at the next meeting,
Mr LINSTEAD then proposed "That this meeting while tuly recognising the desir ability of Chinese firms of standing and respectability being admitted as members of this Chamber, consider that the member- ship should be shat of the firm under its trading Hong name and not that of an individual partner or representative of the dong, of whom the Chamber may have no knowledge, and that the election of the tirms named be left to the discretion of the Committee."
Mr NELSON expressed his agreement with the remarks that had been made on the The subject, and seconded the motion.
way in which the bluess managed matters made it impossible for anything to be known of the Chinese firms with whom they might have to conduct business.
Carried unanimously,
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE,
The following was the result of the ballot for the members of Committee :-Messrs Keswick, Hoppits, Arubold; Jackson, Dalrymple, Neson, Kyrio, belilion, and Kab.
Mr NELSON proposed, and Mr Haasell Aeconded, that Mr Keswick be elected Chairman for the year i-Carzled 90*
nimously
Mr KESWICK said he was very much obliged: he had hoped he would be ex- cused, but it had been urged upon him, and he would endeavor to do what he could for the benefit of the Chamber (bear hear), Mr RYBIE proposed and Mr Linstead seconded that Mr Nelson be elected Vice- Chairman for the year; which proposition was unaminously carried.
The CHAIRMAN then asked it any mem- her had any remarks to make on general matters.
DEPUTATION TO SIE THOS, WADE. Mr RYRIE observed that it would be advsable to indicate the opinion of the mesting as to how they were to approach Sir Thomas Wade, by deputation or by memorial, to lay before him their griev ances as to the new ports, He was in favour of a deputation, to give a frank explanation of their own ideas, and if psible of hearing his views in return (hear). He would propose that the de uta- tion be formed of the whole Committee, or that the entire Chamber wait upon the Minister, as they might recollect was done
on a former occasion with Sir Rutherford Alcook. If the Committee formed the deputation, they might form a précis of what should be brought before him.
|
Mr BELIOS agreed upon the Chamber thue calling the Minister's attention to the Blockade. The arrangement promised in the Convention was an equitable one, and it was important to expedite it, and settle it one way or the other. If the British Government destined to help the Chinese to collect their revenue, by all means let it be so on the other hand, if they were to withdraw, the sooner this thorn was re- moved from their side the better for all concerned. If only a stop could be put to the present harassing of trade, it would matter pot whether a duty be levied or not; for the freedom of this port of which they boast was a myth and a delusion. It was alleged in certain quarters that as the junk trade bad increased, the Blockade did no harm; but the junk trade would be doubled or trebled were the cruisers now fying around to cease. Trade would in- crease so soon as the Blockade was removed. It was so palpable that he was surprised that any one with any reason could deny it. Flow soon this Island had been peopled from China; and with the city of Canton adjacent, and so great an amount of human beings in Kwangtung province, the population inoressed at a very slow rate ladeed, and they could only boast of a lakh of souls. The population of the Straits Settlements was much larger, and why? Because the action of the Hop- po and his illegal levies enhanced the price of living The removal of this Blockade was of the most paramount importance and so BOON
as it was removed, large ortions of the Island would swarm with Chinese, resulting orease to the
and
encouraging, short and sweat" Your Com mittee have not relaxed their efforts to ob efforts would not be relaxed till the ob tain some remedy," and he believed these jest was accomplished. As the Chair- man had said in Feb. 1876, and they might adopt it as their text, "nothing abort of the total abolition of the Blockade" would be suficient. There was a dangor of their being misunderstood, secatise as men of business they preferred peace, and as they had beeu warring this Blockade warfare for the last ten years, i- was natural for them to rest contented. But this was not the proper position to occupy they must go in for total abolition. Mr Sharp then referred to the apparently deliberate misunderstanding of the an thorities, as shown in the fact that, when tue Chamber on 16th Sept. 1878, inquired what measures were adopted as to entrance and departure of the oppo's cruisers aud tenders, eplied by saying what had poen done as to juaks. The authorities had tried to divert their atten 1on from the real point at issue.
Was he right or wrong
&
iu saying that this Colony was declared to be a free port on 7th June 1841 This Colony was declared to be ires port, and be read it so in Sir C. Eliott's proclamation, but the course of event which ir Charles predicted 28 yours ago had been developed. Upon this declaration the first sellera buught land and made Hongkong their bome; and then
• mшsuoʊd the course which had been foraeen, that the chinese would seek to ut the growing trade to their own so- count, If so, can it be, has it beeu, or is it possible to be so with our fault or laches, tias it ever been denied by the overa- ment? after saying that the boundaries of the Colony, had been laid down, he remarked that they had shown conclusively at the public meeting that the Chinese had been levying duties actually in our own wall, Mr Sharp toen referred to she basis proposed by the Hongkong Govern- ment to oir T, Wade, which is as follows:-
1. That the three Throat Gate Stations shall be retained for collection of duties clearances. and war-tax and delivery of receipts and
shall hand in manifesta, pay duties, aud 2. That junks clearing from Hongkong
r qeive cicatandes at one or other of such stations.
3. That junks coming to Hongkong shali examination and payment of export duties stop at one or other of such stations for
trom Fort of quearance if such have not Deen already paid.
demanded from junks coming to Hongkong from Ports in China save such export duties as are payable at the respective ports
clearancs,
4. That no duss whatsoever shall be
3. Luat a tariff of dues and duties levi- BUI inabis on goods shipped by Chinese juoca Colonial exohequer from itud kong shall be agreed upon and an advance of the interests of published, sa also the penalties for breach of merchants generally. in order to 40-
Quatums Begulationsi complish these objects, he thought that a deputation should meet sir Thos. Wads here (hear).
6. Heters to the adjudication of seizures. 7. That all Revenue Uruisers shall be Mr GUANVILLE SHARF said there was little
under the jurisdiation of the officer only that was new to be said, and the subject adedited to the Government for such was so thoroughly understood, that any
| special service. remarks might be dispensed with but for the Tientsin Treaty (Art. 20) "Im. the great necessity existing of proving to
port duties shall be sonei ered payable ou the Governments here and at home that we
the landing of the goods, and duties of Were are still where we were-ie, determined export on the shipment of the same.” to obtain the abolition of the Blockade ale
the duties goiluted at these stations on slipment or landing of the goods) No such shing. They are additional dutim unfairly
together. The words of the Report were
83
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