y
306
The Quiros will leave for Manila in a few days and will accompany the transport Manila, which takes over the gunboats for service on the lakes n Mindanao.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 25, 1893.
unfavourable for testing her sailing capabilities, set an example of enlightened efficient quaran will observe in the Chamber's correspondence as it was practically dead calm. She carries, tine arrangements which reflects credit upon reference to the Treaty entered into between however, about 3,000 square ft. of sail area, which, it, and it was in consequence possible for our Great Britain and Japan, which the Chamber with a steady breeze. will give about 4 knots intercourse with that port to be maintained only deals with in so far as the colony's interests speed. After luncheon; Mr. Gillies in a few without more than absolutely essential restric-are touche throngh its Refineries. Our astate well chosen words proposed success to the Quiros tions. You will remember that last year I made Japanese friends, in negotiating the new and had no doubt but that her officers would
reference to the exclusion which the Chinese tariff, had the advantage of knowing to one find her a very suitablo vessel and well fitted sought to impose on the importation of mach-hair's breadth just what they wanted, and the for the duties she may have to perform.
inery for manufacturing purposes into China, result has been the imposition of a duty on Captain Vasquez, Chief of the Commission and I then ventured to say that no effort on the refined sugar which, unless we get it altered. who have superintendel the construction of the part of China in that direction could be sustained will adversely affect the importations from this vessel, replied and thanked Mr. Gillies and the once it was seriously challenged. The right to colony. The question will doubtless further staff for having turned ont such a very satisfac-exclude machinery has been challenged, and you engage the attention of the new Committee. tory little vessel. She was finished in a most may take it for granted that Treaty privileges in And now, gentlemen, I have almost exhausted excellent manner and after a careful heeling this matter will be fully vindicated. Within all that I have to say in reference to the report, experiment in her fiuished condition he found the last 48 hours it would seem probable that but I must briefly allude to what seems to be her metacentric height slightly more than was the new Treaty of Peace with Japan has defi-universally called the "silver question." It specified, thus insuring more stability and bet.nitely disposed of this question and also of the engages attention in all countries, but thus far ter ability to make use of her sails. Hex-long-sustained likin grievance. A reference to it cannot be asserted that any person, or league, pressed himself highly pleased with the results the Appendix I.. page 25, will show you that the or committee, have been able to persuade the of the day's trial all respects and he hoped Chamber has had some correspondence with world that a solution has been found. Let us hope that the Dock Company would be favoured with regard to the proposed compulsory use of an that a solution soon will be found as found it orders for several other vessels which the official code vocabulary in telegraph messages, must be sooner, or liter-for no one will contend Spanish Government intended building.
and although the vocabulary will not be appli- that we can do without silver as a monetary cable to messages ontside of Europe, until 1898, medium. The fact remains that two-thirds of still the Chamber deemed it desirable to record the world's population count their wealth in silver its protest, and other Chambers have done like and uso silver as their only medium of exchange, wise. An International Conference at Rome, held and it cannot be expected that gold can over in December, 1893, recommended the adoption of take its place. The uncertainty surrounding such a code, and I fear there may be little the value of silver is more mischievous than chance of preventing its compulsory use, but the lowness of its price in relation to gold, every effort should be made in this direction. as because the continual fluctuations in its quota- the costly codes of banks and firms in the East tions render the ordinary conduct of business On Friday afternoon the annual general will perchance be rendered valueless. The cor- hazardous. I think I may congratulate the meeting of the members of the Hongkong respondence on this question is worth your at members on the Chamber's share in the General Chamber of Commerce, was held at tentive perusal. As you are aware this Chamber recommendation of the coinage of a British the City Hall. The Hon. J. J, Keswick has always taken great interest in the lighting dollar, which a special committes appointed by presided. Amongst those present were:-Hon. of the port, and I should not pass over without it were unanimously in favour of. At an early A, McConachie, Messrs, E. Mackintosh. R. M. notice the suggested reconstruction of the Gap date we hope to have the coin circulating with Gray, T. Jackson St. C. Michaelsen, N. A. Rock Lighthouse consequent upon the in- as in Hongkong, where it is made the only Siebs, Douglas Jones (Committee), F. Henderson jury sustained by it in the typhoon of October, legal tender, concurrently with the Mexican (Secretary), D. Gillies, A. Tillett, F. Sharp, A. | 1893. The correspondence which is appended dollar. In conclusion, gentlemen, I want to Shelton Hooper, D E. Brown, J. Y. V. Vernon, shows the recommendations which have been say one word before resuming my seat on the Stolterfobt, Ho Tang, G. Stewart, J. J. Bell-made, but with which your Committee have not subject of this Chamber itself, on which I wish Irving. G. H. Wheeler, A. Coxon, Alf. Woolley, felt themselves able to concur without further you all, and the public at large, to cast a D. R. Sassoon, A F. Smith, C. A. Tomes, R. opinion. There seem to be no structural defects, benevolent regard. The finances are not in Shewan, J. Kramer, Garrels, Ezekiel, Byramjee, and your Committee consider that before taking such a flourishing state as I could wish. We David, Pestonjeo, Wy Shing, Ho Tung, Lai any such costly step it would be desirable to have have for some years been encroaching upon Hing, Kotewal. Ming Kee, and others.
the opinion of one of the Lighthouse engineers our capital, owing to a reduced revenue and The SECRETARY read the notice couvening of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, slight increase of expenditure. The principal the meeting.
whose services could doubtless be secured. It loss of revenue is in the sale of market reports, must be borne in mind that since 1893 the the altered conditions of business rendering such Lighthouse has experienced the full force of records less necessary than formerly. I believe an even more reve e typhoon than that in our Shanghai friends have had the same experî- October of that year, and it seems undesirable ence, and I am not sure that they have not had to inour such a huge expenditure unless abso to stop their market reports altogether. T ❘lutely unavoidable. Your Committee does not think no one will question that this Chamber consider it unavoidable, and have confidence that as an institution should be maintained, for it His Excellency the Governor will accord the re- will not be denied that, as it has been useful The CHAIRMAN-The next business is to con. presentations of the Chamber his usual courteous in the past, so will it be in the future, and it firm the election of Messrs. A. H. Rennie, Hong consideration. We have had no correspondence will be easier to maintain it than to resuscitate Kong Land Investment and Agency Co., of an official nature concerning the West River,it if once you permit it to collapse, I think an Limited, G. H. Wheeler (Attorney, Standard Oil but as you know, the Foreign Office, in acknow exceedingly moderate increase in the subscrip Co., of New York), Bradley and Co., Shewan ledging the Chamber's letter on the subject, in: |tion would equalise income and expenditure. I and Co., the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, aud Lauts,timated that the British Minister at Peking would think there is nothing further that I can use- Wegener and Co. I propose that the election receive instructions on the matter, and it is to be fully say, but it is satisfactory to see the condi- of these gentlemen be confirmed.
hoped that we may soon hear that Mr. O'Conor tions of trade here and in China gradually be- has been able to arrange for the opening of this coming more satisfactory, and there are not The CHAIRMAN Gentlemen, the report which fine water-way to foreign trade. The importance wanting indications that commerce everywhere. your Committee have to-day to submit to you of direct steam navigation between Ilongkong is starting on a new era of prosperity throughout will, I trust, bear evidence that during the year and its upper reaches can readily be conceived the world at large. (Applause). Before submit- we have not been unmindful of those commercial I may here appropriately make reference to the ting to you for adoption the report and accounts and cognate interests which it is the province of war which has been waged between China and I shall be glad to hear any remarks any gentle- the Chamber to keep in view. The year 1894 Japan since July last, and which everyone will man may wish to make upon the year's opera- was one of the most eventful in the history of rejoice to see fow ended. While not withhold-tions of the Chamber. If there are no remarks, the East, and in Hongkong it had the distinctioning our generous word of sympathy for the van-gentlemen, I beg to propose that the report of of witnessing the introduction of plague in our quished, neither should we begrudge our meed the Committee for 1894 and the accounts as pre- midst, a disaster which taxed all the energies of of praise to the victors, by whose means we hope sented be adopted and passed. Government and the Sanitary anthorities to sup- to see a regeneration in the administrative, press it. Happily it was overcome and the trade social, fiscal, and commercial affairs of China, of the port and the inhabitants seemed to return and a departure on the path of enlightenment The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the next business as if by magic, and at the moment there is and progress which cannot but increase tenfold is the election of the Committee for the ensuing evidence of increase in both. Let us hope that the material well-being of her people. Both year, and I will remind you that Mr. A. G. the lesson will be laid to heart and that in future nations during the conflict have to their honour Wood and Mr. Whitehead are expected to be if pestilence visits this Island it will find no con- placed as few barriers as posible in the way of back in the course of this year. genial aborte. Your Committee deemed it trade by neutrals, and commerce, though cur-
The election of the Committee was then pro- desirable to review in a letter which you will read tailed by a shaking of confidence among all ceeded with by ballot, and the CHAIRMAN re- in the appendix, and which I hope will be re- classes, has on the whole been less adversely marked-Gentlemen, it has been suggested to garded as a useful and a temperate letter, the affected in many respects than might have been me that I ought to remind you that neither Mr. sanitary history of the colony, and I hope and expected. The conditions of peace I need not here Mackintosh, the Vice-Chairman, nor I will be believe it will be considered a fair statement of recount, but the acquisition of Formosa by Japan here during the ensuing year, and therefore we the past condition of sanitary affairs and be of marks a political change near our borders of are not open to election. some service and of public interest. As will be which the full significauce will gradually Mr. D. GILLIES-I would ask if the Chairman seen from the report, this Chamber had occasion dawn upon the Western nations. The opening of and Vice-Chairmau are elected by this meeting, to criticise the quarantine regulations of a neigh Peking and Nanking to trade is of great imor does the Committee elect its own Chairman bouring colony, not from any desire on our part portance, and I hope that among the other places and Vice-Chairman P to minimise the importance of effective quarantine, opened under Treaty may be ports on the West The CHAIRMAN-They are elected by the but to prevent precautions which only aggravate River, but if not, we must hope that through the meeting, the situation. The small Republic of Shanghai | British Legation this will be accomplished. You The SECRETARY-Will you be good enough
The CHAIRMAN The first business of the meeting is to confirm the minutes of meetings, held on the 11th May and 6th June, when we elected Mr. McConachie as member of the Chamber in the Legislative Council. If you will permit me, we will consider these minutes as read,
Minutes confirmed.
Carried.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to second that. Carried.
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