Sessional_Paper_1917 — Page 7

3

No.

2

1917

HONGKONG.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ECONOMIC CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIES HELD AT PARIS ON JUNE 14, 15, 16 AND 17, 1916.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, February 22nd, 1917.

CIRCULAR.

DOWNING STREET,

25th September, 1916.

SIR, You are aware that His Majesty's Government have under consideration the commercial and industrial policy to be adopted after the War, and the measures to be taken to avoid any recurrence of the dangers to which the Empire has been exposed by the growth of German trade and influence within it.

2. The measures to be taken during the period of reccnstruction and afterwards have recently been discussed by the Allied Goveruments, and I invite your attention. to the "Recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies," of which you have already received a copy. A further copy is enclosed herewith for convenience of reference.

3. A Committee has been appointed to consider the commercial and industrial policy of the United Kingdom after the War, with special reference to the conclusions of the Conference. I enclose a copy of the terms of reference and a list of the members.

4. This Committee will consider the questions before them primarily from the point of view of the United Kingdom, and, as stated by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on the 24th July last, its appointment is a step preliminary to the convening of a Conference representative of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and India. At such Conference it will devolve on the Secretary of State for the Colonies to secure consi- deration of any special circumstances affecting the interests of any particular Colony or Protectorate. I should therefore be glad to receive from you a considered statement of the views of your Government on the Recommendations of the Conference and on the questions submitted to the Committee, so far as the circumstances of the Colony or Protec- torate under your Government appear to you to call for special attention in connexion with them.

5. You will no doubt wish to consult representative persons and bodies before reply- ing to this despatch, which you are at liberty to make public.

I have, &c.,

A. BONAR LAW.

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.