51009-1917-Co-operation-between-the-Board-of-Trade-and-the-Imperial-Institute — Page 1

68 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 16, 1917.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

No. 46.

CIRCULAR.

DOWNING STREET,

20th December, 1916.

SIR,--With reference to Mr. Bonar Law's Circular despatch of the 30th of August, on the subject of the Imperial Institute, I have the honour to transmit to you the accom- panying copy of three Resolutions adopted by an Inter-Departmental Committee which was appointed to define the spheres of work of the Imperial Institute and the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade.

2. I have to explain that, in view of the increased attention which has been paid, especially since the outbreak of war, to the importance of obtaining the fullest possible information as to the resources of the Empire in raw materials, with the object of the utilisation of those resources for purposes of commercial development, it was felt that some danger existed lest the work in this direction which was being carried on by the Department and the Institute might lead to an overlapping of their functions and to con- sequent waste of energy.

3. It was accordingly decided to appoint an Inter-Departmental Committee over which the Right Honourable Lewis Harcourt, M.P., then First Commissioner of Works, was good enough to preside, and it is hoped that the decision embodied in the enclosed Resolutions, which have been unanimously agreed to by the Committee, will ensure a satisfactory delimitation of the spheres of work of the two departments as well as close and cordial co-operation between them.

4. I shall be glad if you will take steps, by publishing this despatch in the official Gazette or in such other manner as you may deem suitable, to give publicity to the new arrangement.

I have, &c.,

WALTER H. LONG.

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

[Enclosure in Circular despatch dated 20th December, 1916.

RESOLUTIONS OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON Co-OPERATION BETWEEN THE BOARD OF TRADE AND THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

(1) The Imperial Institute should deal with enquiries as to the sources of supply of raw materials produced within the Empire in connexion with their industrial and com- mercial utilisation. Either the Board of Trade or the Imperial Institute may deal with enquiries as to supplies immediately available, but the Board of Trade should as a rule. deal with enquiries for ordinary supplies of well-recognised raw material through the usual trade channels.

(2) The Imperial Institute should undertake all necessary investigations of the value and uses of raw materials produced within the Empire.

(3) The Imperial Institute and the Board of Trade should co-operate in cases in which the questions concerned involve special statistical and trade information as well as technical treatment.

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