CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12] — Page 426

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(C U P Y)

Sir.

421

Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.

hongkong, 21st. Novesber, 1908.

MA

! -

Referring to the letter of 28th. July last in which the

Committee of the hongkong General Charber of Commerce ventured to lay

before you their views on the subject of piracy in the frovinces of

the Iwo Kwanas and wore particularly with reference to the piratical

attack on the British Steamship "Sainan" in the Aest miver on the 13th

iler, I now beg to inform you that wo learn through the Secretary of

the dongxong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co.Ltd. who act for the joint

owners, (therselves, the indc China Stean Navigation Co.,ltd. and

China Navization Co.,Ltd.) that they have been informed their claim

for consequential damages cannot be supported cy his Majesty's Govern-

ment.

The Committee of this Charber received the news as to

the decision of His Vajesty's Ministers with very great regret and in

the interests of British Trade generally and the prosperity of this

Colony considered it advisable to at once telegraph protesting against

this decision and requesting that the instructions on the subject

Issued to his Majesty's representative in China be suspended pending

receipt of cur written protest.

al-

The consequential larizes have been occasioned to the

Steamboat Companies through this attack cannot be disputed of any one

qualified to speak on the subject.

Acting under Treaty rights these British Companies have at

great expense opened up and developed a new oranch of trade with China

and there is good reason to believe that had such security to life

and property which we are entitled to receive from the Imperial 3cvern-

rent been cairtained, the trade would rapidly have developed and

proved highly remunerative to all concerned.

me might honourable

Instead

Sir Edward Grey, Eart., M.P.