CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3] — Page 641

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favourable scale of duties than is charged

cargo suiffed by foreign

vessels, and requesting to be furnished. with an expression of opinion from | the chamber on the subject, co request to which I have much pleasure in responding.

The question of these Prefe- rential duties was first brought to the notice of the Committe of the Chamber on the 10th September 1891 " by the representatives of some of the

principal Shamship Companies bading " with Hong Kong complaining that Jea which had formerly been carried

Hong Kong almos entirely by Foreign Shamers was being diverted to Junks, and that for so mouth's previous to the dake of their letter the entire export of Fea had been carried by Native Craft. The reavon alle

-alleged buing the inducement offered to Native Traders by the Stoppo

behreen Cawton and

of Canton to ship their tea by sunk and pass it kerough the Aative aw- som stone, by charging a much lower duty than would have been imposed by the Imperial Marihine

Custom bad the Sea been carried

events by foreign vessel. Subseque -have fully festified the truth of this -allegation, but the devious ways in which the system is carried out renders proof wow formerly

ao

diffients now as it

The chief sufferers by

this change were, of course, the River Steamboat Companies by direct loss of freight, but the decan Steamship Boners were also adversely affected by the regular

and uncertain con.

nection between the Tea laden Junks and their Steamers. If the Junk - arrived some in advance of the homeward bound Steamer (touch...

ing

days

at Hong Kong for cargo / the tea

of

bad