CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 299

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she offers to shipping and upon the ease and freedom from

restraint with which goods pass to and fro. Neighbouring ports are always watchful for an opportunity to divert her trade, and it requires but a slight inducement from one side or another to determine whether goods are to come by way of this Colony or are to pass by another route. I may refer you to the letter of the

10th. February from the Consul-General for the United States of

America, which formed enclosure Ho. 7 in my Despatch No. 64 of

the 24th. February, as an instance of the ease with which trade

is diverted; and I may mention that the important tin industry of

this Colony, the history of which is given in my Despatch No. 20

of the 17th. January, 1913, is seriously threatened, proposals

having been made, in view of the uncertain prospect of export, to

transfer this business in its entirety to Haiphong, or in the

alternative to Shanghai.

8.

I am of course fully alive to the fact that all

local considerations must be entirely subordinate to Imperial interests; but it would seem that those interests are not affected in the matter of goods coming from non-British ports for distribut- -ion from Hongkong as a centre. Such goods may be landed merely for transhipment, or they may be taken into stock by merchants for sale and re-exportation as opportunity offers. The refusal to permit the re-exportation of the latter class of goods would apparently have only the effect of diverting the distributing trade to other channels; while the stocks of goods within the

Empire would in no way be increased.

9.

I have therefore to ask that every concession compatible with Imperial policy may be made in the interests of

the trade of Hongkong.

I have the honour to be,

sir.

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Hom

ад

Governor,&c....“