To`
white um
no
Enclo No. 1.
Enclo No. 2.
Enola, No. 3.
-
3
(37
imposition of the new import tariff and the
abolition of likin on the 1st September.
3.
The British river-steamer companies
30
have surrendered to the Canton Seamen's Union.
On the 3rd August, much to my surprise in view of the announced intentions of the main company,
as described in paragraph 5 of my secret despatch
of the 29th July the Hong Kong, Canton and Macao
Steamboat Company forwarded to the Colonial
Secretary under cover of the enclosed letter dated
the 3rd August, the draft of an agreement which
it proposed to endeavour to negotiate with the
Union at Canton. To this I instructed the Colonial
Secretary to reply that such an agreement would in
my opinion be inimical to the best interests of
Hong Kong as well as detrimental to the Company itself. I attach a copy of this letter which was despatchelon the 5th August. At the same time I
caused a copy of the correspondence to be sent
privately to the Acting Consul-General at Canton
in the hope that he would at least discountenance the proposed action. However, on the 7th August the Chairman of the Company informed my Private Secretary that the agreement had been signed at Canton,in an atmosphere of complete cordiality, with certain minor amendments; and on the following day the Secretary of the Company forwarded to the Colonial Secretary a copy of the final text of the
agreement. I attach a copy of this agreement
indicating on it in red ink the "minor amendments' agreed to by the Chairman of the Company at his
*. No. C 3000!/27 [No 7],
Tuter Insert slip here as
conference
+ not printed. fostuote with reference #
57
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