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May 21, 1896.]
Chairman, in seconding the adoption of the report and accounts.
Mr. DODWELL-Before you put the resolution, Mr. Chairman. I should like to ask if you have had an answer from the Government to your letter.
The CHAIRMAN —No. Mr. DoW.LL--No reply? The CHAIRMAN--No reply.
Mr. Depw LL- Can you tell us. Mr. Chair- man. Low you dissociate the Chamber politi. cally and commercially
The CHAIRMAN-I spoke in the first person. Mr. DODWELL--1 presume you easy a for the Commitee. You everk.-
The CHAIR... - AG, I spok› in the fit person there.
Mr. LOLWELL-The Chamber, as i under- staud. was orginally intended to be a rem- mercial badly, but it Lar political privileges, one being the chamut of a member on the Legislative Councin Such bug the case I
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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the members of the Chamber and obtaining their views before committing them to any expression of opinion whatever. (Applause), The sanitary state of the colony is still very There bad. Mr. Jackson has truly said that is no doubt the present state of Hongkong is a disgrace not only to the Government but to our civilization." After full consideration I agres "unless some well-con- with Mr. Ede that
over-
serious mistake if they agree to any rearrange- ment in connection with any increase in the ad valorem duties on import into China in force under existing treaties before first re- ferring the matter to merchants and others on the spot directly interested. Imports of for- eign goods into South China, owing to the action of the provincial officials, have been aud are still denied their rights under transit passes as stipulated for in the Tientsin treaty. uchsidered scheme be adopted to abate imports eu voli hear an increased duty pro- crowding, to resume, lay out, and rebuild vided that Decre cnty payment will absolutely on proper principles, at least the worst sections fiee th
Luther and every other of the town, we shall never, make any real fter arrival at their permanent progress towards immunity from
All disease.” This means
a considerable bebeshipping and trade et në qete firm a despatch expenditure, and we appear to be somewhat taxed already. The Government of a foru.er Ge.11.0; v hojwas fully alive to the heavily pecujjar and crepatora, flocal circomisli nces,
states the burden at between 88 and $9 per Sir Jeu Bowring wrote- Believing that the head, whereas, according to the North China satisfactory development of our préspurity is Herald, in changhai it is about $2.75 a head. mainly due to the emancipation of all shipping We each of us may desire to lessen taxation, but and trade from "seil vi ratfiets, and exac.cis, 1
that is not a question for the Chamber of Com- trust no Custom letav sejjebitory
merce, nor is it for the Chamber to advise the w ever le introduced, either use "lue pollution, of tariff or Government as to the best method of carrying Harbour dues, or for any jungeon which may
on the work of its various departments. The fact has to be faced that the plague has again check the free ingr
and egress of all ship- ping to and from the port! for the transfer | gained a labitation here and the enemy ought to he grappled with vigorously and effectually hong introdure of commodities Lon hund to hun),
evicted by the proper authority. As further kong presents the ther Example of the ches-
delay in dealing with the matter may perma. ticity and poteney of unrestricted es tu ree which has not nec anterbalaneed themently injure shipping and other interests, the barrenness of the soil. the abst gee of agri.
new Committee you to-day elect would do well to cultural and manufacturing industry, the
ce to it that Hongkong is not allowed to con- disadvantages of its climate, and eng hydi. time an infected port. I think you will all went which would cbg its progres." In his agree that the necessary sanitary reform to instructive paper, rend recently at the Regal
render the port clean and healthy should be Colonial Institute ou “ British Lule la Malaya." | effected forthwith, at whatever cost of money. Mr. E. A. Swetterham bays of the British | (Applause.) official and the paddie." It is a curious fart The resolution was then put and carried unani- that, so far as I know, Crown colonies handly monsly. ever produce really rich cologists, whcih the constitutionally-governed colonies can tell them I believe the by hundreds and thousands, reason is that in Crown colonies there is a narrowness and want of liberality in the treat- ment of bona fide commercial undertakings that makes it impossible to obtain much success. and in consequence the capital, the energy, and the brains go elsewhere." It is unfortunately too true that successive groveruments here have not freely and fully consulted the opinions of old and experienced residents on matters of träde. If they had done so, perhaps there might be less demand for some share in the management of local affairs, but, as they have not, nothing cau be more natural than the
municipa present feeling in favour of a
or a majority uf unofficial lity bers in the Legislative Council. Although I think the Government would do well to consult the Chamber more than it has done, yet I am clearly of opinion that it should only do so on matters affecting trade and com- merce. As a cosmopolitan body we ought to
do not see Log tot ideas.
The CHAIRMO N- The question I hæl in my mind. Nr. Ledwell
I you, for as this. instane..!! redure a question as the con stitution of Es pandang
Ford
YOU to this thuir the depots of discord at onec. and it
seule le fatal to its interests if yon glqqtol then. That was the idea in my mind when I wrote that patagraph. The rule under which ale matter cours is this. Hule 14 Radis
Lat
important questions affecting the face of the jert and its political or contactcial af us with the Empire of China or thu
say he discussed at the yearly port
or special gepaal meeting for the purpoze convéned in the man- ver prov Bled - in Rol: PE" Under that rule. if the natter has a touring in comme ce--
Mr. DepwLL- The health of the port. I take it. surely has a very great bearing on the commercial relations of the port, and for that reason 1 think the matter of the Sanitary Board should be taken up by the Chamber of Commerce.
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The CHAI. Do you wish to propose all amendment?
Mr. DODWELL--No, I was simply making a remark
Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the remarks I have to make will not be very long. The annual report now before you show, I think, that Hongkong has business men able and willing to give their spare time, their cuergy, and experience to the promotion of public as distinguished from pri-
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have nothing to do with political questions, like unto the composition of the Sanitary Board. We are an organisation of foreigners and Britishers, and any act is to be regretted which may in auy way tend to disturb or mar the harmonious relations and the cordial friendly feeling which has ever existed between the various nationalities composing the Chamber. (Applause.) The Cham- ber has for its objects To watch over and pro- tect the general interests of commerce, to collect information on all matters of interest to the mer- Therefore I feel cantile community, etc., etc." sorry that Mr. Keswick, a former Chairman. should have committed the Chamber to any opinion on the question of the Sanitary Board, and especially without first submitting the matter to the members for their deliberation
The appointment of the following new mem- hers was confirmed-Messrs. Renter, Brockel- man & Co.. the Hongkong and Whampoa Dook Co. Limited, the Sperry Flour Co., of San Francisco, the China Traders' Insurance Co., Limited, the Hongkong Fire Insurance Co., Limited, the China Fire Insurance Co., Limited, the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., Limited, Mr. H. Wicking, the Banque de l'Indo-Chine, Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master, Mr. Creasy Ewens, Mr. H. J. Holmes, Messrs. Hughes and Hough, Mr. Victor H. Deacon, Dr. J. W. Noble, Messrs. Benjamin. Kelly and Potts, Messrs. Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co., and Mr. James McKie..
The CHAIRMAN-I beg to propose that the appointment of Mr R. Chatterton Wilcox a8 Secretary be confirmed.
Mr. VERNON seconded. Carried.
The meeting then proceeded to elect the new Committee. and Messrs. Dodwell and Vernon While the votes were appointed scrutineers. were being counted Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP said-I think, sir, that an opportunity should be given to members of the Chamber to in- troduce matter which might perhaps be new and not bearing upon the subjects mentioned in the report. The best part of the hour is always occupied in the reading of the report and any remarks made bearing upon it. Then the report is passed, new members, are elected, and a vote is taken for a new Committee. Then we all go away whilst the scrutiny is going on and there is no opportunity for any. thing to be said on anything new.
The CHAIRMAN-The opportunity is given, Mr. Sharp, before the report is put to the meeting.
vate interests, and it is. I submit, a creditable record of work due. I can speak from experi- cuce that in Ind the Chambers of Commerce, on commercial matters, are frequently and continuously eulted by the Government, Through such institutions those at the head of affairs are enable the more accurately to feel the pulse of the country on any particular ques- tion which may arise, and can thus legislate more in accordance with actual requirements. The presence of the Governor of the Presidency at the annual meeting of the Bombay Chamber in February last was‹vidence of the estimate Lord Sandhurst places upon the Chamber's value. I hope the Colonial Government will avail itself more freely in the future of this Chamber's services in matters affecting trade and com- merce than it has done in the past. (Applause.) If the Government had first referred the pro- posed new Arms and Ammunition Ordinance to the Chamber I feel convinced that no such drastic legislation would have been brought
Mr. SHARP-I beg to say that the reading of forward. The proposal to enact that Ordin-
the report and the discussion upon it are enough ance has already seriously injured a perfectly
for one meeting and anything which unduly legitimate branch of trade. If passed into law,
prolongs meeting is undesirable; but the new Bill will acrzedly drive an importaut The CHAIRMAN-I must object. Mr. White might I venture to suggest that there business away from Hongkong to the neigh head. I suppose you are alluding to the Hon. might be a quarterly meeting of the Chamber, bouring colony of cao. I am sure the Cham-J. J. Keswick. He did not as Chairman of
once in three months, to give the public an oppor- ber could have suggested methods of attaining this Chamber of Commerce commit the Cham-tunity to say anything or to suggest anything for the end the Government has in view without ber to any opinion on the constitution of the hurting a long-established and bona fide branch Sanitary Board. His letter on the constitution of trade. Before entering upon the new treaty of the Sanitary Board was written in his capa- with Japan it is much to be regretted that the city as member of the Legislative Council to Imperial Government did not first consult the the senior the l.cu. onofficial member. Chambers of Commerce in the Far East, the China Association, and others intimately ac- quainted from experience with the needs and the requirements of local trade. (Applause.) The home authorities will make another
and consideration and first obtaining their
views.
Hon. T H. WHITEHEAD-I am referring to his letter of Cor. 1894, in regard to the Sa- nitary beard and think it is really to be re- gretted that he committed the Chamber to the views he then expressed without first consulting
the good of the community at large in reference to matters which the Chamber was formed to discuss. I think that a meeting once a year is wholly inadequate and some of the matters in the report become matters of ancient history when they come before the meeting. If the feeling of the members is in favour of it I think it would be looked upon as a boon if a quarterly meeting were convened of the men bers of the Chamber.
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