176
the resolution, for I informed him to that effect immediately
after the meeting of Council at which he gave public notice of his intention to move the resolution.
2.
hos
Taking now the Chamber's letter seriatim, the first point raised is the importance of the present maintenance, with a view to after-war progress, of the Empire's Commercial position in the Far East, with special reference to the questions of shipping facilities and the supply of trained men. The former question, in its relation to Imperial requirements generally, received and is still receiving the closest pttention of the Admiralty; while the question of the retention in Hongkong of men of commercial training has been and at the time of writing still is under the consideration of the Commission, whose appointment was approved in your telegram of the 7th. February.
3.
Under the heading "Imports, Exports, and Industries" the Chamber refer to the Colony's close association with China, to its local industries, to its export trade in Chinese produce, and to the question of trade marks registered by enemy firms.
4.
The question of Hongkong's relation to China is dealt with by the Chamber at more length under the heading "Fiscal questions" in their letter to Mr. Ross, where they aptly compare the Colony to a depôt or godown. I may make the suggestion that goods in transit through this godown could, by an extension of the bonded warehouse and drawback systems, be made free of any special tariff operative within the Colony.
5.
The Chamber lay stress, and rightly so, upon the importance of the Colony's greatest industry, ship-building,
and they refer also to sugar refining and cement and rope manufacture. These industries, and others, such as cigar and cigarette manufacture and tin smelting, now rapidly growing,
depend alike on (a) cheap labour (b) free imports of raw materials
and
ค
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.