CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 103

B.

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY,

at the address given opposite,

The following letter and number should

be quoted:-

0. 8234

Telegraphio Address:

COLASTA, LONDON,

Telephone No.:-1362 Victoria.

BOARD OF TRADE

C O 36017

101

RECE Rra? 8 NOV II

(COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT),

GWYDYR HOUSE,

WHITEHALL,

LONDON, S.W.

7th November, 1911.

sir.

EN 3 Drap

I am directed by the Board of Trade to refer to your letter of the 14th October, transmitting copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, covering a classified list of importers, exporters and manufacturers in that Colony.

In reply thereto, I am to state that the lists in question would appear to have been prepared in consequence of a request, addressed by the Commercial Intelligence Branch of this Department, to their Commercial Correspon- dent in Hong Kong (the Harbour Easter) in November, 1908, for a list of the principal dealers likely to purchase British goods. The present lists, though of a more com→ prehensive character and apparently including other than the principal firms, would, nevertheless, be of appreci- able service to the Commercial Intelligence Branch.

The Board would have no objection to the publica- tion of these lists (which are returned herewith) as a com- mercial undertaking, either in this country or in Hong- Kong, should Mr Secretary Harcourt regard favourably the suggestion made by the Hong Kong Government in this res- pect. But I am to suggest that, in that event, it would

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

probably

i