CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 210

A

#914

15

avco I

Enclosure

0.

8768%

Hong Kong, 1st March 183

DAPR 39

J

Sir,

Under the Canadian British Preferential Tariff Act, dated

Ottawa, 14th July 1698 it is provided that Refined Sugar imported into the Dominion shall be subject to a rebate of Duty of 25, provided it is accompanied by a certificate that the Raw Sugar used in its manufacture is the production of, and has subsequently

been refined in a British possession.

We learn however that Hong Kong is not included by the

Canadian Government in the List of Colonies entitled to the Pre-

ferential Tariff, though being itself a free port, it should naturally participete in the benefits of the Act to the fullest extent; its exclusion is an injustice to the Sugar trade of the Colony, and appears to be quite at variance with the Spirit of Reciprocity, which was understood to be the basis of the Preferen-

tial Tariff.

We have therefore the honour to request that you will bring

the matter to the notice of the Canadian Government, with the view of Hong Kong being placed at an early date on the List of those Colonies entitled to the benefit of the Act.

We have the honour to be,

The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain

sir,

Your obedient servants,

Jordi's mathason

General Manage

China Sugar Refining Company, Ld.

H. M. Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.

&c. &c. &c.

Page 210Page 211

.......