CO129-431 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [1-2] — Page 92

No 20

N°

81.6

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG,

7th. January, 1916.

(BTE

96

Sir,

With reference to your Despatch No. 239 of

10th. September covering a letter from the Board of Trade on the subject of alterations in the Korean Customs Tariff, I have the honour to inform you that I referred the matter to the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce who replied on the 24th. of November stating that the proposed changes did not affect the Europem Merchants in the Colony but suggesting that it might be well to ascertain the views of the Chinese Merchants.

I then referred the question to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and on the 18th. December received a reply to the effect that out of 21 members of that Committee only 3 were in

favour of the proposed change though 8 while favouring the change

from an ad valorem to a specific rate, wished the change to be postponed till 1920. Ten members voted against the proposal. On enquiring the reasons actuating the opposition I was informed that

members were influenced by the following considerations:-

(s). The price of articles vary from time to time and

the

that duty once fixed would always romain the same though the price might drop: and

(b). That if alteration were once allowed further chang- -es might be suggested before the expiry of the period of ten years from 1910.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Br

Governor, &C..

RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, H.P.,

&C.