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THE INCREASED SUBSCRIPTION.
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In introducing the next question before the meeting, which he described as rather important one "the increased subscription, the CHAIRMAN remarked that the principle of increased capital for a progressive business was so familiar to members that it need not be laboured. The Chamber of Commerce was a busi- ness which had far exceeded its capital and required increased revenue, in order to carry on its work efficiently. For many years, members had enjoyed the privileges that the Chamber afforded at a really wholly inadequate annual sub- scription. This fact was enforced on the Committee very strongly during the war years, when work increased enormously. The war had left a legacy which made the work even greater to-day. Times! were not propitious, and the question of advancing the subscription had been postponed. Now, however, the position had been forced by the resignation of the present secretary, which took effect at the
end of the year.
"His labours are so familiar to you all," added Mr. Holyoak, "that I should like to pay them this passing word of tribute, though I hope to have the oppor- tunity, on another occasion, of speaking of his very valuable services, over many years, to this Chamber-(applause) and I hope to give you an opportunity of affording tangible evidence of your appreciation."(Renewed applause).
Reverting to the work of the Chamber, the Chairman said that when Mr. Wil- liams became secretary there were two committees. The Chairman mentioned eight additional sub-committees now in existence; one-on shipping-had 25 pages of minutes representing last month's work. The general committees' agenda had increased from 15 pages to 60. Chairman also mentioned the daily bulletin and the surveys. The rice sur- veys were a very big issue and had won a reputation in San Francisco, of which the Chamber might be proud. The Chamber now acted as consular corres- pondent to the Board of Trade, since the withdrawal of the Commercial Secretary to the Legation in Hongkong. The work of all concerned had increased to such an
The
extraordinary extent that it was a matter of some difficulty, year by year, to find a Chairman who would face the duties associated with the office. Members of committees, also, had to give much valu- able time.
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"It is purely a business proposition," concluded Mr. Holyoak. The Chamber is carrying on very large and important work and requires an even larger staff than we are budgetting for to-day. should like to add that no portion of the increased subscription asked for is to be devoted to the Chamber of Commerce guarantee towards the
Commercial Course at Hongkong University for the next five years.
That has been found, or will be, entirely by guarantees from members, quite outside subscriptions."
The CHAIRMAN, then, proposed:-
That, from January 1st, 1922, the annual subscription of members be in- creased, for firms from $60 to $200 and for individuals from $25 to $100, pay- able quarterly.
The Hon. Mr. A. G. STEPHEN seconded. He said: I think this is very necessary, though I do not second it with any parti- cular pleasure. This is hardly the time to ask people to add to their overhead charges, but the fact remains that, if
the work of the Chamber is to be carried on, in anything like an efficient manner, this increase of subscription is necessary. The work of the Chamber will not get less as time goes on. The neighbouring
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS &
country is in a state of political chaos and we must have an efficient Chamber
of Commerce to see that the trade inter- ests of Hongkong are properly protected. In the quiet old days, very little work was necessary; there was a law of some kind in the neighbouring territories, and we very seldom came into collision with our neighbours. But now China is be- coming the battle-ground of conflicting interests. and the only way that some protection can be afforded to Hongkong trade-British and foreign-is to have an alert Chamber of Commerce to point out to the Government any menace that may arise. Your neighbours in Shang- hai have realised the importance of this and only lately have raised an endow ment fund for the Chamber of, I believe, do not aim at anything so ambitious as one hundred thousand taels. Here we that, but merely ask for this increase of subscription which, I think, you will agree, is absolutely necessary.
Mr. OWEN HUGHES supported the pro- posal. The Chairman, in a circular had hinted that there might be resignations. Such a thing, said Mr. Hughes, was un- thinkable and would be very much to the discredit of the community. Mr. Hughes thought there was a tendency to leave too much to committees and suggested that the whole Chamber should meet quarterly, instead of annually, and that there should be an annual dinner, with a lecture or an address on a question of interest. He instanced the question of military lands as one on which the full weight of the Chamber would be needed, if the War Office were to be prevailed upon to relinquish their hold.
Mr. COUSLAND supported Mr. Hughes' suggestions, and said that a special meet- ing should have been held, for example, on the piece goods contract, just dis- cussed.
Thereeing no further discussion, the resolution was put and carried without dissent.
Mr. OWEN HUGHES proposed that gen- eral meetings of the Chamber be held quarterly, and that a special meeting be called at an early date for amending the constitution.
Mr. COUSLAND seconded.
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The CHAIRMAN pointed out that the Committee had power to call quarterly meetings without altering the constitu- tion.
After discussion, the resolution was approved.
THIEVES STILL BUSY.
Mr. B. Griffiths, third officer of the s.s. Chipshing, which is undergoing over- haul at the Cosmopolitan Dock, was swimming from the dockwharf at 7 a.m. on Aug. 25th, when his silver wrist watch, worth $25, was stolen from the pocket of his coat, which he had hung on the wharf. No one was on the wharf when Mr. Griffiths went out to swim, so that he has no clue to the identity of the thief.
Mr. L. Noronha, of No. 27, Shelly Street, who was bathing off the North Point bathing beach, suffered the loss, from the operations of a dressing-room thief, of a gold wrist watch worth $48.
EXCESS PROFITS DUTY.
In the House of Commons, last month, Sir R. Horne said the amount received by the Treasury from the excess profits duty between 1915, when the duty was first imposed, and June 30th, 1921, was £1.171.642,000. The amount repaid was £49,016,000. The amount of duty assessed but not yet paid was £285,000.000.
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[September 3rd, 1921.
THE CASSEL MINING
AGREEMENT.
STATEMENT BY CANTON FOREIGN MINISTRY.
[CANTON INFORMATION BUREAU.]
CANTON, August 30th. The following official statement has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:-
With reference to the replies made by the British Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs recently in the House of Com- mons concerning the agreement signed by Major Cassel with the Kwangsi mili- tarists, those who have perused the agree- in a position to form an opinion as to ment, which is now public property, are
the merits of the case.
But the Under
Secretary interjects a remark which de- mands notice. He says that Peking has, owing to certain difficulties, referred the agreement back for further discussion of the points in detail with the Canton authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has two observations to make re- garding this statement. The reason why this Government has not recognized the agreement in question concerns a matter of principle-monopoly and illegality-so that no amount of discussion of details will be of any profit. Secondly the Re- publican Government having its seat at Canton, being the legitimate Government of the country, obviously holds no in- who also realize the situation sufficiently tercourse with the authorities at Peking to have never attempted to refer to it any matters for action or discussion.
WHAT KANSU'S EARTHQUAKE
COST THE PROVINCE.
Reuter's correspondent at Peking writes:-Mr. Chen Shan, Civil Governor of Kansu, has forwarded a report of the Kansu earthquake and a list of names of Kansu people who gave assistance which he thinks worthy of official recog nition. The report begins in Chinese historical style by saying that from the time of the Han Dynasty to the end of the Ching House over 100 earthquakes occurred in Kansu. Only a little over 30 hsien escaped visitation by this scourge, and upwards of 1,000,000 families were severely affected: In the last earth- quake 200,000 people were buried by the falling hills and numerous draught animals perished.
The Kansu Provincial authorities, mer- chants and gentry organized a relief society, and money, clothing and medical assistance were provided in limited quan- tities. When the time came for farm work to be resumed the shortage of animals became a severe handicap. The Relief Society then came to the as- sistance of the farmers, but again the help afforded was limited by the want of funds.
Calls were then received for assistance in rebuilding homes, as the houses had been almost completely des troyed over an area of between 600 and 700 square li.
The Provincial Bureau of Finance then advanced $110,000 from transportation taxes, while 20 per cent. of official salaries, 50 per cent, of postal and tele- graph revenues and 10 per cent. of var ious other taxes were allocated for re- lief Finally numerous guilds and public bodies co-operated with the Provincial Government in raising funds.
It is the leader of these charitable undertakings that Mr. Chen recommends for rewards.
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