CO129-407 - Public Offices & Others - 1913 — Page 33

C.O.

1362

RECE

REF 13 JAN 13

(@

(Copy) C.I.B.24913.

5, West Scotland Street,

Glasgow.

25th November, 1912.

Messrs Commercial Intelligence Branch,

Dear Sirs,

Board of Trade,

73, Basinghall Street,

London, E. C.

We have information from a correspondent in Hong Kong this morning to the effect that a local firm has put a cheap brand of whisky on the market at 17/- per case duty paid. As the duty is 12/- per case which leaves 5/- per case to pay for the whisky, freight and a profit to the importer. It may interest you to know that it is absolutely impossible for Scotch Whisky to be supplied at this price and the inference is that the whisky in question is some Continental or other foreign manufacture. We suggest that you should cause enquiries to be made at Hong Kong as to the origin of this whisky and the circumstances under which it is sold. If the whisky bears a label implying that it is Scotch or Irish Whisky we think steps should be taken to stop the sale of it, as a matter of common fairness to British exporters. We may mention in confidence that our in- formants are Messrs MacEwan Frickel and Company, 4 Des Voeux Road, Hong Kong. We rely upon your making discreet use of this information.

&

Yours truly,

i

For SLATER RODGER & CO., LIMITED,

(Sga) JOHN CONNELL, Director,