-
350
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
move
April 27th. 1917.
to
the
At this point. Sir Paul Chater left the
The resolution was then put to the room. meeting and was carried with only two dissentients, the Hon. Sir Paul Chater and Mr. Carter.
formerly enjoyed. It will be within the do, these economic reasons do not apply, right to be taken seriously hereafter by memory of many of you that some years because she will come equally into line any commercial body, and more particu
Hongkong Government ago an attempt was made through this with the rest of the Ailies in deciding larly by the
(Applause.) Gentlemen, I beg Chamber to establish bimetalliem ir what shall be done with German trade itself.
resolution: the following
Cham- this Colony. It was found, however, that after the war, and we shall be insepar- to
of this (Applause.) That the members
take exception to unless China would come into line, this ably bound up with her.
con- ber desire to could not be done, and the scheme had So I think we need not seriously to be abandoned. As this Chamber itself sider the argument against the proposi- words used by H.E. the Governor at the in its letter to the Government when tion at the present moment, always re-meeting of the Legislative Council held considering the Recommendations of the membering that we are merely expressing on Thursday, 19th April last, in speaking views to the Home Government which to a resolution which sought to convey to Economic Conference of the Allies re-
we say we have a right to have con the Imperial Authorities the carefully garding the commercial and industrial
sidered. Without further words I will reasoned and unanimous opinion of the policy to be adopted throughout the Em-put the resolution, unless there is an Committee of this Chamber. pire after the War, wrote, "Hongkong amendment to it. is essentially a great shipping port and trade emporium and as such cannot be disociated from the neighbouring State of China, which indeed provides the most
Mr. MONTAGUE EDE, in seconding, said: important field for Hongkong enterprise,
-Gentlemen, the mover of this Resolu- Whatever Imperial Policy is adopted for
The CHAIRMAN then declared the resolution has told you that in coming to the the future in the interest of Hongkong
carried by an overwhelming conclusions at which he has arrived he provision must be made for its peculiar tion relationship with China and no measures majority.
has been influenced only by the printed should be taken which would be likely to
reports of the speeches made at the be detrimental to the further expansion
He of the import and export trade with
Mr. DODWELL then said:-Gentlemen, Council meeting on the 19th inst. China: any Tariff Regulations should
All there is one further resolution I desire was not present in the room, and there- provide for these circumstances.' this goes to support my contention that to put to you at this meeting: it has fore he cannot tell you first-hand what without the support and co-operation of reference to the debate in the Legislative happened. I, gentlemen, was in the room China any such suggestion ag that now before us must prove futile and react to Council on the 19th inst., and to certain during the whole debate; I our detriment. (Voice No, no.) Gentle remarks made by H.E. the Governor, position peculiarly favourable both as to men, the question under discussion is to my which were taken exception to by Mseeing and hearing, for I faced H.E. the
37
mind essentially one of Imperial Policy. We have been asked by the Home Govern- ment for an expression of our opinion as a guide to our representative at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and in giving forth such an opinion we must be careful not to let our justly incensed hatred of the atrocities committed by our enemies and our sentiment for the suffer- ings imposed upon our fellow country men and Allies to obscure our sound and well-considered judgment. Common- sense tells us that so soon as she is able to do so Germany will open up trade throughout the world, and for us to at tempt to bar her from trade with or through this Colony, without, as I have already said, the aid and co-operation of our neighbours, would be hopeless, and far from our best interests as a Colony. Briefly, then, while no one would be more pleased than myself to see the Germans excluded from this Colony for the period suggested, it can only be successfully done provided we have the hearty stead fast co-operation of China and the neigh. bouring countries, and I suggest, there fore, that there should be embodied in any recommendation of this nature for warded to the Home Government such a proviso. (Voice No.)
ANOTHER RESOLUTION.
was in a
en-
&m now
Governor, and not only heard every word Holyoak at the time, and with which he said but noted particularly the inflec At the tions of his voice, and I can assure you feel sure you are all familiar.
that the impression conveyed to my mind conclusion of the debate H.E. said: was that the slight on this Chamber was "I have only one remark to make, and intentional. I would specially call your attention to the following paragraph in that is that I do not think any unpre- Mr. Holyoak's speech: Finally, 1 judiced person would consider that the would remind you that the views I have
set forth are unitedly shared and words I used in reference to the deceased endeavoured, however incompetently, to Sir Thomas Jackson and deceased Wil-dorsed by the Committee of the Chamber ing specially convened to consider the liam Keswick.can by any stretch of ima-of Commerce, which, at a recent meet- gination be construed into an insult to whole matter, unanimously adopted the the Hongkong General Chamber of Com-identical motion on which I
addressing you. The composition of this 60 well known to your merce or its committee." I was not per- Committee is sonally present in the Council Chamber, Excellency and this Council that I am but I have carefully read the various re- certain its carefully considered opinion ports of the debate in our local Press, will not fail to carry the weight it de with the Secretary of State and with all due respect I say I cannot serves
for the Colonies." In this H.E. agree with H.E. No unprejudiced person,
Governor was clearly informed to my mind, could come to any other the
the unanimity existing, and conclusion than that some of HE,' re of
for that the least, lacked that there is therefore less excuse marks, to say
(Applause.) I under- courtesy which I think this Chamber is which transpired. entitled to expect from the Government. stand that His Excellency the Governor in face of H.E.'s concluding words those has stated that a wrong construction has I have just read to you-I prsonally do been put upon what he said, but I regret, not believe that any studied insult or very much, with all respect, that, having even discourtesy was intended; I take been present and having weighed the that view the more readily as it seems point most carefully, I, for one, cannot The Hon. Mr. P. H. HOLYOAK-As the to me incredible that the Governor, no accept this explanation. (Hear, hear.) matter how strongly he was opposed to Fortunately, this matter can be judged member of the Chamber who proposed our views, would wish to make such disy you all on its own merits, and I there- this resolution, I will exercise my pre-
paraging remarks about the members of fore leave it to you to show by your the community chosen by you for your voting unanimously for the resolution rogative and reply to Sir Paul Chater's
who, whatever their that you take exception to the way in committee, men remarks. I have purposely avoided qualifications, kave been entrusted by which this Chamber, through its repre was slighted, and its con- their fellows with the management of sentative, dwelling upon the subject of shipping business concerns controlling millions of dered opinion brought to nought. (Ap- for the very reason that obviously the dollars, and who I submit, further, bave plause.) interests of the Colony and other parts taken a very responsible share in guiding
The Hon. Mr. HOLTOAK-I am glad those concerng safely and successfully of the Empire must be bound up in-through the greatest
in that the burden of proposing or second- crisia And yet, (Applause.)
gen-
ing this resolution has not fallen to me separably with that of shipping, and history.
tlemen, what other inference can should it so happen that France and
not as your Chairman. I say this because I one draw t If any of you do Italy should open their ports to German agree with me in this I hope you will was present and deeply interested in what
I would remind you shipping after the war, Hongkong also get up and say so, must admit them within its port. And that the account of the proceedings in the took place. I also felt and expressed the in reply to the fear he expresses with Legislative Council is likely to regard to China, that the prevention of widely read, not only in the Far East, resentment, which I can perfectly clearly the return of Germans for a certain and it is the construction put upon the see is also felt deeply by you, in the period would do untold harm in our report by that public which we have to Council. There I propose to leave the trade with China and Japan, I trust consider. I therefore feel very strongly matter. But it is due to His Excellency that before very long China, too, will have that if we do not take exception to the that I should tell you that he sent for entered the field against the foes of words used by His Excellency we should me on Saturday, and in the course of an humanity. (Applause.) And, if they lose not only our self-respect, but our interview he again explained to me that
be
+
April 27th, 1917.]
him
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
HONGKONG
AND THE
210
251
GERMAN S.
CROWDED PUBLIC MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL
THE COLONY'S ANSWER TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
be could not see how I or
anyone else could possibly place upon his words the interpretation which We have done. And it 18 also due to
say that he Baid he never intended any such interpretation at all. Be that as it may, gentlemen, when utterances are made by public men, be they governors or be they politicians, they must nerept responsibility for the apoken word. (Hear, hear.) And in the absence of any public withdrawal, as public as the statement was made, we have no other course but to make allusion to that. With these few words I put the resolu tion which has been proposed by Mr. Dodwell and seconded by Mr. Ede.
A crowded and enthusiastic public meet- The Hon. Mr. P. H. HOLYOAX The resolution was then put to the ing was held at the Theatre Royal, Hong accorded a great ovation when he rose meeting and carried unanimously.
kong, on April 26th, with the democratic to address the meeting. He said:---Gen- object of giving everybody an oppor tlemen, I have brought this resolution The Hon. Mr. HOLYOAK-May I express tunity of expressing his views on the before you at a public meeting because I to you, gentlemen, before you leave, the question of excluding Germans from the appreciation of the Committee of the
was inundated with letters and tele- The meeting was Colony after the war. Chamber of Commerce in what amounts presided over by Mr. H. P. White, who
phonic messages and enquiries as to to a vote of confidence in us. (Applause.)
whether the general public of Hongkong Believe me, the work of the Committee of Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak (Chairman of of Commerce, and I was obliged to say was supported on the platform by the could attend the meeting of the Chamber the Chamber and of its representative is
am afraid you can
neither attend,
RESOLUTION CARRIED WITH ONLY TWO DISSENTIENTS.
by no means light, and it would certainly the General Chamber of Commerce and not be carried on for one single moment
In reply to Mr. Bell, the CHAIRMAN said that the resolutions would be for- warded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and also to the Committee of the United Chambers of Commerce at Home. Mr. FORBES The question of the ex elusion of the Germans is one on which
I
Wes
if the Committee or its representative and representative of the Chamber on the because the building's capacity will not not feel behind them the united opinion Legislative Council), and the Hon. Mr. hold you, nor can you vote if you do of the Chamber. (Applaus.)
H. E. Pollock, K.C. (representative of the attend, because you are not qualified to Justices of the Peace on the Legislative do so. And in every case the reply was Council).
this: Will you arrange a public meet- The Chairman and the gentlemen sup-ing so that we can have a voice?" That porting him were greeted with loud and is why I have ventured
to call you prolonged applause when they appeared together this evening, and I am confident
that upon the stage to take their seats.
you will endorse the resolution which I am going to put before you. The CHAIRMAN, who was given a rous- ing reception, said: --Ladies and gentle-(Applause.) The resolution which I have men, this meeting has been called in to proprse is :--- response to a widely-expressed with that. the commercial public of Hongkong, out- side of the Chamber of Commerce, should
I think the majority of the members of this Chamber have made up their minds. We do not want the Germans here, we are quite capable of carrying on the trade of the port without them, and we must decline to have anything more to do with them. If there are any friends of the Kaiser in this Colony, I would like to say
to
war.
be given an opportunity of expressing their views in regard to the exclusion of Germans from the Colony for a prescrib
That it is the opinion of this meet- ing that it is in the best interests of the Colony that persons of German nationality should be excluded there- from for a prescribed period of years following the declaration of peace, and that subsequently they be only admitted to the Colony under strict licence." Now, gentlemen. you will notice a very slight difference between the terms of this resolution and that which was adopted In the
that we have no use for them, and we will do everything we possibly can
ed period after the conclusion of the war. We all realise and recognise that this defeat their aims to restore German ship- ping and business here after the
question is one of Imperial policy, and, As the Government is against us, we
as such, it will ultimately be determined should, I think, cable fully to the London by the Imperial Government, which, no Chamber of Commerce and other Cham- hers in the Empire to ask for their sup-
doubt, will be guided in arriving at a by the Chamber of Commerce. port and ask them to take the matter decision by the attitude adopted by the Chamber resolution, as you know, up to arrive at a decision. I would pro-
for a period of tea poar, instead of a period of 10 years, that
Allied and other Powers. All we main. had the words it would be better to leave this for the tain is that the commercial community years," and, in speaking to that resolu- Imperial Government in order that the of this Colony has an undoubted right tion in the Chamber, I said that the question may be discussed fully. There are many members of the community who to express its opinion on the question at are not represented at this meeting and issue (applause)—and that its views it would be well to ascertain their views.
I ther fore propose that we should should be transmitted through the pro a public meeting at as early a date as
per channels to those at Home who will possible.
represent the Colony at the Imperial
Mr. LOUGHLIN seconded.
We
term ten years was a purely academic term, and when I said that I meant that
the Chamber does not really care whether it is for ten years or for ever—(applause)
or whether it may seem Imperial powers, to whom all these ques-
wiser to the
Conference when the time for doing so
tions must be referred, that it shall be The Hon. Mr. HOLYOAK said that
I now call (Applause.) at has arrived.
only for a period of shorter duration. an early date an endeavour would be upon the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak to
But we are
determined that whatever made to hold such a meeting. He had propose a resolution, which will be open duration it shall be for they shall never been inundated with letters and telephone for discussion after it has been seconded, come back except upon terms by which calls asking him to make that meeting and I ask, gentlemen, that the discussion we can control them. (Applause.) Now, public, but he had to explain that it was a shall be allowed to proceed without undue gentlemen, the opposition, so far as I can private meeting of the Chamber of Com-
merce and that only members would be heat, and that tolerance may be shown follow it in the discussions which have allowed to vote. They would try and towards those who may express views taken place, and in the various letters, arrange a meeting for Thursday at the which do not coincide with our Own. Theatre Royal, if it were possible.
This was all the business.
(Applause.)
anonymous and otherwise, which have passed through the papers-in a word,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.