Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 781

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13. Nothing further seems to have been done for some mouths until Mr. Austin, Colonial Secretary, was administering the Government, 1875. He wrote a long memorandum giving the reasons why the Gov-

ernment were not prepared to legislate on the subject. He states "that the Bill would not be proceeded

LL

with has doubtless been long well known to the directors of the Tung Wa Hospital and the other Chinese

· Merchants who advocated it, but it is due to them that they should know the reasons which have influenced **me in declining to submit the draft Ordinance to the consideration of the Council.”

He then proceeds to give them at length, but I must refer to his minute of June 22nd, 1875, on C.S.O. 2538 of 1874 and C.S.O. 194 of 1875.

It might be convenient, however, to sum up here the grounds of his objection. They are :—

1st. Because it was doubtful whether the measure would carry out the objects aimed at.

2nd. Because he considered the capitalists lived out of the Colony and that to follow them

or their property was impracticable,

3rd.--Because he considered it would be legislating for a few whose aim is virtually the destrue-

tion of competition.

He added other grounds of objections—-

(1) That the exceptional registration of Chinese merchants would be unjust; (2nd) "that any such espionage would bave the effect of checking these combinations amongst "the Chinese residing at Canton, Amoy and elsewhere which are calculated to stimulate and strengthen trade at Hongkong; and (3rd) that any interference whatever with the free- "don of trade would be at variance with our general policy."

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14. On the 24th June, 1875, Mr. Tounochy, then Acting Registrar General, informed those interested of the decision of the Govemment, and nothing further seems to be done until the 2nd November, 1877, C.S.O. 2514, when the Chamber of Commerce invited Governor Hommessy's attention to the question of Re- gistration of Chinese partners, pointing out that the same person may he partners in several firms at the same time, that the confidence inspired by a Registration Ordinance would be a boon to the whole mercantile community and that the Chamber of Commerce were ready to give the Governor further information on the subject.

15. To that the Governor directed a reply that this matter should have his best consideration (letter 7949, 5th November, 1877). The Chamber not having received any further answer seur another letter on 26th August, 1878, C.S.O. 2039 of 1878, asking for the promised reply and the Governor replied that “the *question of registering the members of Chinese firms had been carefully considered by his predecessor *who considered it would be very inexpedient to do so" and that he was inclined to take the same view. He went on to say that he would not then finally decide the matter.

16. On the 24th September, 1878, the Chamber of Commerce again urged the necessity for the Registration of Chinese firms in Hongkong and in their letter they point out that "the numbers composing Foreign firms are invariably known, and it cannot be requiring too much of the Chinese mercantile. “community in this Colony to conform to a rule which is voluntarily followed by other nations but which

rhey decline to observe," see C.S.O. 2248.

in answer to that letter, the Governor seems to have sent them Mr. Austin's minute of June, 1875. und asked them to auswer the objections, aud I can find no further reference to the subject mutil the Governor's census speech of 1881, recorded in the Gazette of 4th June, 1981, in which it is stated, page 391. that he consulted the Chinese on a proposition of the Chamber of Commerce to register sleeping partners in Chinese houses of business. 4They shewed that it was exceedingly difficult to find out who had money * in a Chinese trading concern and recommended that the natives should be compelled by law and under adequate penalties to register every person who had a share, no muiter how small, in a Chinese business. » The Chamber of Commerce added that they had no desire to apply this system to the European houses, → but wished it to be confined solely to the Chinese, Acting on my usual principle, I mentioned it to some of the leading Chinese bankers and others, but they pointed out that the Chinese system of trading * would be completely upset by it, that there is an extraordinary network of investments in this Colony, as in any other community of Chinese, and that it would interfere seriously with Chinese trade and in fact **roud to prevent the influx of Chinese into the. Colony, Accordingly, I declined to accede to the proposal “of the Chamber of Commerce.”

17. In the following Gazette the above is translated into Chinese (see page 427) and I have referred to it and the Chinese translation because it will be necessary for the Government to bear in mind these representations to the Governor when the present Petition so numerously signed by leading Chinese is considered. For now they say that the registration under penalties will "tranquilize the merebuuts and traders”; “will protect commerce"; and “business will certainly be benefited by this means." They also at the end of their Petition state that the above plan will establish mutual good faith and will be in accordance and harmony with public feeling."

18. The Petitioners in 1874 said that the "inspection of the registers is a thing necessary to the * commercial circle" that "although rich merchants and wealthy persons of other ports are desirous of