CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 65

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64

is likely to be indefinitely postponed. The Committee of the Hong-

kong Chamber of Commerce therefore consider it necessary to bring

this question specially to the notice of Your Excellency.

As Your Excellency is aware, a very consider-

able trade, direct with Canton, centres in Baichow, and my

Committee are strongly of opinion that in the interests of this

Colony the early opening of halchow to foreign trade is a matter

of pressing necessity. This urgency is intensified when we reken-

ber that when bongkong is linked to Canton by a line of rail,

tha fact that haichow is an open port will not only add largely

to the trade of this Colony, but will serve as an additional safe- guard against competition arising through the development (by improvements in water or railway transit) of possible rival ports in our vicinity, to the detriment of this Colony and to British

interests at large.

As is well known, the Haickow district is

populcus and wealthy, the country is fertile, and if brought

into more direct communication will no doubt be rapidly developed,

while it may well serve as a producing ground for cattle and agricultural produce generally, required to supply the ever

increasing population of this Colony.

A main road from Waichow connects that City

with the shores of birs Bay, and the opening of the town cannot

fail to confer great benefit upon hong kong.

The importance to the trade of hongkong

which the opening of the above three ports entails must be our excuse for having addressed Your Excellency at such length.

i have etc.,

(sd.) 6. A. Hewett,

Chairgan.