CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 298

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Cclosure.

V

General

4.

291

On receipt of your Despatch marked Miscella-

-neous of the 9th. Larch a proclamation, fifteen copies of which are

enclosed, was issued under date the 21st. April. I may here

acknowledge the receipt of your Circular Despatch of the 22nd. March forwarding a copy of the Supplement to the London Gazette containing the King's proclamation of the 11th. March, and the receipt of your Despatch marked Miscellaneous of the 22nd. March 1297 hear al

transmitting an Order of the Lords in Council of the 18th. March.

I anclose fifteen copies of a proclamation dated the 14th. Lay which was issued in pursuance of that order. It will be noticed that paragraph (1) of that proclamation prohibits the exportation of American pine and Chinese copper coins to all destinations. The prohibition as to American pine is at the instance of the Military Authorities, but the rules, reforred to below in paragraph 5 of thi: Despatch, modify this prohibition in respect of such pine as may be in excess of Military requirements. The export of Chinese coppor coin is prohibited because export from China is prohibited by the

Chinese Government.

10

5.

I have next to record the telegrams noted in

the margin, en clair versions of which are enclosed; and I also

attach a copy of rules which have been framed under these tele- -grams to permit the export of certain articles under restrictions

and conditions.

6.

18543

With regard to my telegrams of the 21st. April 2294 2294 and 15th. liny, which forms enclosures llos. 10 & 10 to this

Despatch, I desire to emphasize the point made in my Confidential 953 Despatch of the 26th. February regarding the very serious effects that may be occasioned upon the normal trade between Hongkong and other ports in the Far East if stringent restrictions are placed upon exports from this Colony.

7.

Hongkong, as you are aware, has but few local industries, and the great bulk of her trade is derived from the convenience of her positions as a transhipping and distributing centre. Her prosperity depends largely upon the facilities which

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she