ATP.
26758/1934.
office of H. M. Trade Commissioner,
office of the Commercial Secretary,
Asiatic Building,
24-32, Queen's Road, HONG KONG.
"B" No.57 (and 2 copies)
Copy to H. M. Minister, Peking, No.30
Sir,
D. M. Nanking, No.23.
C. C. Shanghai, No. 118.
5th July, 1934.
62
With reference to my telegram No. 5. of 4th July
I have the honour to confirm that yesterday His Excellency the
Governor of Hongkong informed me that he proposed to appoint me
a member of a Commission under the Chairmanship of Mr. M. J. Breen,
a Cadet Officer, Class I, who is at present Postmaster General,
to enquire into the causes and effects of the present trade
depression in Hongkong and to make recommendations for the
amelioration of any existing difficulties and for the improvement
of the trade of the Colony. In reply I atated that I should be
pleased to serve in such capacity subject to your approval, and
that as F. M. Trade Commissioner in Singapore had recently served
on a similar Commission, I did not anticipate any objection.
The latter remark was made as I was informed that it was desired
to proceed with the arrangements without delay.
2.
For some few months there has been a feeling
amongst the responsible members of the business community that
some measures might possibly be taken for the improvement of
trade and industry in the Colony. Various small groups have
informally discussed such questions as the possibility of
increasing the production of foodstuffs in the New Territories
of the Colony; the possibility and advisability of imposing
import tariffs as a means of protecting Hongkong Industries; the
desirability of strongly pressing the Chinese Government to give
Hongkong produce and manufactures tariff preference; and the
wisdom or otherwise of coming to some arrangement with the
His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs,
LONDON, S. W. 1.
Department of (verseas Trade,
Chinese/
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.