?
COPY.
No. 882/1913.
Enclosure 1.
C.O
Government House,
14217
282
Your Excellency,
Hongkong, 8th. February4P1913.
I have the honour to enquire what your views
are regarding the continuance of the practice whereby the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce addresses His Majesty's Minister at Paking direct on questions affecting British interests and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps on matters of International interest. My own view is that the practice is undesirable and that, following the principle of Colonial Regulation No. 214, such communications should be transmitted through the Governor of the Colony.
2.
I may mention that recently one of the Chinese Un-official Members of the Legislative Council mentioned to me in conversation that if a new Chinese Chamber of Commerce were formed in Hongkong he saw no reason why, following the ex- -ample of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, which con- -tains many Chinese members, it should not address the British Minister at Peking direct on questions affecting the interests of Chinese Merchants in Hongkong. I said that this Government could not consent to such procedure, and I feel sure you will agree with me that it would not be desirable to permit it.
I have etc..
(Sd.) F. H. May,
Governor,&C..
His Britannic Majesty's Minister,
Peking.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.