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The CHAIRMAN-To meet that as far as possible, Mr. Sharp, the Committee a short time ago decided to publish abridged minutes of each meeting of the Committee, so that members should know what has taken place in the Chamber and through the Press express opinions upon any subjects. A quarterly meeting would, I think, be altogether too large a tax upon the Committee. They devote a great deal of time and attention already to matters connected with the Chamber and I think it would be a great tar upou them indeed
F if a quarterly meeting were held.
Mr. SHARP-I am quite sure the Committee work very hard and anybody who takes up that pamphlet and reads it through causot he oblivious of the fact that the Committee are working very hard, but I do not see how a quarterly meeting would increase their work. It would simply give the pallie the oppor- tunity of saying how very much obliged they were to the Committee. I should be glad in know whether anybody will second my proposal to give members the opportunity of expressing their views.
At this time there were very few members in the room and Dir. FRANCIS, rather good hum- ouredly than seriously, scconded Mr. Sharp's suggestion.
The CHAIRMAN did not put the motion to the meeting and told Mr. Sharp that the Com- mittes would not lose sight of His proposal.
Hon. T. II. WHITEHEM-You can call a special meeting, you will state the subjects to be discussed.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The CHAIRMAN announced the election of the
following Commitico :-- -Messrs. T. Jackson. H. Smith, T. 1. Whitehead, N. J. Edo. St. C. Michaelsen, N. A. Siebs, J. J. Bell-Irving, G. B. Dodwell, and A. McConachie,
Mr. Bell-Irving was elected Chairman and Mr. Ede Vice-Chairman.
Mr. EDE-Not under any circumstances. I
am very sorry,
The CHAIRMAN—As Mr. Ede cannot accept the position of Vice-Chairman the next on the list is myself. That is all the business of the meeting. I thank you for your attendance.
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asked the support of this Chamber to telegraph to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking. In the absence of definite information, and considering the position might be really critical, the Con mittre acceded to the request. Subsequent events, however, seemed to indicate that the Admiral could not have prudently acted other wise than as he did, dud, very fortunately, it was afterwards proved that the fears of the Amoy Chamber had been premature.
TREATY FITWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN, The uncertainty existing last May as to the ratification of the above treaty being the cause of considerable anxiety and threatening to bring about a serious interruption to trade, your Committe» addressed the Governor, suggesting that he should telegraph to Peking for definite information on the subject, which suggestion His Excellency promptly acted upon, cliciting the reply that the ratifications were exchanged at Chefoo on the Sth play thus happily terminat ing a period of Lusiņos suspense. NEW TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND
:
JAPAN.
[May 21, 1896.
Gap Rock Lighthouse, and the Committee have repeated the suggestion that before entering upon operations involving so large an outlay it would be well to obtain the opinion of an official of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs on the subject. Though Sir Robert Hart was unable to spare the services of such an officer at the time the request was made to him, it is possible that the then axisting diffi- culties may have disappeared.
PROPOSED ENFORCED USE OF OFFICIAL
TELEGRAPH CODE VOCABULARY.
The Committee have continued agitating in this matter, and, besides other action taken, a joint letter, signed by this, the Canton, Shang- hai, Haukow. Fechow. Hyogo, Yokohama, Amoy, and Tientsin Chambers was addressed to the International Telegraph Bureau, Berne, further protesting. and recapitulating the arguments already advanced against the pro- posed enforced use of the code. This joint letter was declined by the Bureau at Berne, having no authority to take cognizance of any representations exerpting such as proceed from one of the countries of the Union, but was passed on to the British Post Office authorities, who were good enough to take charge of same, promising that it should receive the same attentive consideration as the other memorials on the same subject forwarded to them by other Chambers. The question will come on for the decision of the Telegraph Convention fixed to meet at Buda-Posth during the current
SUNDAY VARGO-WORKING ORDINANCE AND THE EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN MAIL
In the annexed corespondence the new treaty between Great Britain and Japan hasheen again dealt with. more particularly as regards its pro. | bable effects upon the sugar du: tries of long kong by the imposition of duties which, while eminently calculate to foster suger refining in Japan, must art advers-ly on the branch of the trade of this colony. The Chauber can now only express its regret that it was not consulted, and had not an opportunity of expressing its opin-year- ions on the provisions of this treaty-which may be expected to deal a severe blow to such an important branch of the trade of the colony
-before they were finally settled.
AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS,
Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co. called at'en- tion to the above Ordinance, pointing out an Mr. EDE-I am very much obliged to the omission which the considered entailed a hard- gentlemen who elected me Vice-Chairman. but I ship on those wishing to avail themselves of the am sorry I cannot accept the position. There protection which the Ordinance was enacted to are circumstances which I cannot explain to afford. stating that without ia any way, making you now that prevent me from accepting it. the application public, "ang person claiming the The CHAIRMAN-Not under any circum-right to the exclusive use of any trade mark stances?
either solely or jointly with others, may apply to the Governor for leave to register the same in the Register of 'rade Marks." They urged that the fact of such application having been made is notified in the Governangul Gazette only after the registration of the mark has already been granted.with the result that should it prove an infringem nt fhe owner can only get the The foll wing is the n por.:
registration canerfed after, probably, very con- siderable delay andjexpense, and it was considered FOG SIGNALLING AT GAP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE. In connection with the grounding of the
a clause might adruningeously be introduced into the Ordinand making it compulsory that steamer Polophenons en Jubiler Island, in close
all applications for registration should be made proximity to the Gap Lock Lighthouse. Messrs. Butterfield and Swire bought to the notice of public at the date of application, and continue the Chamber the question, of log signalling at
to be made public at intervals, by notification in the Gap Lock, stating that in their opinion-the Government (igalte, er otherwise, fera peried based Gn the circumstances attending the of not less than three months until the date of re- grounding of the above steamet methods gistration, so as to admit of communicating with
aud receiving a reply from Europe. employed were inadequate. Through the
The question was referred to and received the courtesy of the Government the matter was referred to the Chamber.
approval of the Government.
A report by Commander Rumsey, drawn up shortly after the above accident, which stated that the fog signals were audible at 1.612 yards, and only slightly audible at 2,059 yards, sup ported the contention that the means employed were not.effective.
The Chamber suggested that as the radius of distinct sound was limited to somewhat less than a mile the lighthouse should be furnished with - a signalling apparatus of much greater compass than that then in use. The extraordinary acoustic properties possessed by fog-varying apparently under different conditions of the atmosphereof diverting und arresting sound, which recent investigations have disclosed, renders any thoroughly efficient system of signalling difficult of attainment. Captain Hastings's proposal to fire a 12-ponuder brass gun at regular intervals during thick weather has, we understand, been adopted, and will, it is hoped. prove a sufficient warning to vessels approaching the rock.
REPORTED THREATENED POSITION OF
FOREIGNERS IN FORMOSA.
The Amoy Chamber telegraphed that the reported intention of the British Admiral to withdraw protection from Taiwanfoo threatened the utmost danger to life and property, aud
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS, The various restrictions which it had been considered necessary to chart at different points against this colony had all been withdrawn. but the unfortunate reappearance this spring of the bubonic plague has given rise to a re- newal of the restrictions in the Straits T'he Settlements, Japan, and other places. reappearance of this disease is causing severe loss to the general trade of the colony.
OPENING OF THE WEST RIVER.
This question. hic. has long occupied the attention of the Chamber, has continued to receive earnest consideration. It is satisfactory to the Committee to feel assured that the question has had careful treatment at the hands of Her Majesty's Ministers, and that there are now reasonable grounds for supposing the concession persistently urged upon the within reasonable Chinese Government is
The Chamber is distance of being granted indebted to Mr William Keswick for his valuable assistance in keeping this matter before the Home Government.
SO
PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.
Further correspondence has taken place with regard to the proposed reconstruction of the
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STEAMERS THEREFROM.
In reply to inquiries initiated by the Chamber as to the excaption of certain mail steamers from the provisions of the Ordinance, the Secretary of State wrote in reply to His Ex- cellency the Governor that these concessions had been granted under October, 1893, which had been adopted after full consideration, and. that there did not seem to exist any sufficient reason why these should be departed from; adding that the mail contracts with the Mes sageries Maritimes Company and North Ger- man Lloyd's steamers will expire in July, 1903, and July, 1900, respectively, beyond which dates the present arrangements will not extend. TRANSIT PASSES AND OBSTRUCTION TO THE SALE OF GOODS AT WUCHOW-FU.
The question of the obstruction of trade under transit passes by the Chinese anthorities in Southern China, which has so often been before the Chamber, was this year invested with
fresh interest through the direct and undis- guised action of the mandarius in interfering with the legitimate sale of goods, the property of Mr. Jolu Andrew, a British subject, and which were forwarded from Canton to Wuchow under transit passes, regularly obtained and in complete accordance with treaty rights. The circumstances attending this obstruction to trade are fully described in the annexed correspondence. and the action of the local authorities at Wuchow seems to afford posi- tive proof of their utter disregard of transit passes which has been heretofore always so diffi- cult to substantiate. The representations of the Chamber on the subject to H.B.M. Secretary 4 of Stute. H.B.M. Minister, Peking, and the Consular authorities at Canton have elicited promises of careful consideration.
AN ORDINANCE TO PROTECT IN CERTAIN
CASES RIGHTS OF PROPERTY IN ·
TELEGRAPH MESSAGES.
was
Deeming it expedient to endeavour to obtain protection over certain rights of property in
messages the Government telegraph approached on the subject. The proposal was favourably entertained, and an Ordinance, on lines similar to one in force in the South African colonies, introduced into the Legislative Council. This Ordinance, being in the ordinary course embodied in the law of the colony, has afforded the protection asked for.
: CAMPHOR CONTRACT.
Some difficulties having arisen between the buyers and sellers of camphor in regard to the weights delivered, the contract form to be found in the Applendix was submitted to and approved of by the Committee.
PREFERENTIAL DUTIES GRANTED ON JUNK-CARRIED CARGO.
This much vexed question has again occupied
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