August 27, 1896.].
Replies had been received from Canton, Amoy, Shanghai, Yokohama, and Saigon Chambers expressing readiness to co-operate with Cham- ber, the two latter stating, however, that the increase in rates had not reached their ports. A reply had also been received from Singapore Chamber, stating the question would be laid before the Committee,
THE REPORTED RATIFICATION BY BRITISH MINISTER. AT PEKING OF TELEGRAPH CONVENTION.
At a special meeting of the Committee, held on the 15th August, Mr. Jackson stated that he had the previous afternoon despatched the fol- lowing telegram to Peking :
"Is it true that British Minister has agreed to ratification of Convention between the Tele- graph Companies ? "
To this the subjoined reply was received on the 17th August:~
"In reply to your wire of 14th--Yes. British Minister has ratified under directions British Government.”
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE KEPURI.
tion of a British section by the formation of a Committee and by performing such work as may be necessary for this purpose.
The London Chamber proposes to accept the invitation, of which fact I now give you the earliest possible intimation, and shall be glad to learn that your Chamber will co-operate.
It is thought advisable that Colonial products should be included in this Exhibition, and I shall therefore be glad if your and other Cham- bers of Commerce throughout your Colony will approach your Government with this object.
I am also to suggest that local Chambers might act as local Committees for the purpose of obtaining exhibits and this Chamber would be glad to co-operate in any way which might be thought advisable to make such colonial exhibits representative and successful.-Yours faithfully,
KENRIC H. MURRAY.
Secretary.
THE CHAMBER TO THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
4th August, 1896.
After considerable discussion it was decided that a general meeting of members should be called at an early date to consider the steps to My Lord Marquess,--This Chamber is aware be taken to make an effective protest against of the fact that nagociations are and have been the action of the Telegraph Companies in so for a good many months in progress with the suddenly raising their rates 374 per cent, to Chinese Minister to Great Britain for the Europe, and of the British Government in rati-opening up of the West River and other inland fying the Convention. A Committee was there- waterways of Kwangtung to foreign trade and upon appointed to draft resolutions and make steam navigation. arrangements for the meeting.
(Correspondence.)
CHIPA ASSOCIATION TO CHAMBER.
China Association, Hongkong, 18th August, 1896. R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq.. Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong. Dear Sir,--Reverting to your esteemed favour of 18th May, in which you were good enough to communicate the views entertained by your Committee regarding the then reported inten. tion of the Chinese Government to endeavour to obtain the sanction of the Treaty Powers to an increase of import duties, I would now ask your attention to the enclosed telegram sent to London on 8th inst., which, without troubling you with extracts from the correspondence by which it was preceded, will, I think, make sufficiently clear the opinions held by my Com- mittee on the suggested alterations in the exist
ing tariff.
While expressing themselves as not unfavour. ably disposed towards a reasonable increase of import duties, the Committee have throughout strongly deprecated the sanction of Her Ma- jesty's Ministers being given to any increase in present rates unless arrangements are made for an improved transit pass system which will frank goods through the entire Empire on payment of a single duty.—I am, dear sir, yours obe- diently.
**
F. HENDERSON,
Hon. Secretary. Telegram.
¿
From Hongkong to London.
With reference to your telegram of 29th July, unless consolidated into one duty covering all lekin and other internal charges, strongly object to proposed increase of duties; but we have no objection to increase of duties, provided goods travel. free in the interior, and proper arrangements made for Provincial Authorities receiving their share; otherwise illegal exac- tions and evasions of treaty will continue as at present.
"Hongkong, August, 1896.”
Coded and forwarded to London through -the courtesy of the Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation.
LONDON CHAMBER TO HONGKONG CHAMBER,
Botolph House, Eastcheap. London, E. C.,
3rd July, 1896. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Hong-
-kong.
Sir,
Brussels International Exhibition, 1897. Her Majesty's Government has accepted the invitation of the Belgian Government to be represented at the International Exhibition to be held in Brussels next year, and they have nvited this Chamber to assist in the organisa
I venture to ask your Lordship on behalf of the Committee, whether there is any progress to report in these negotiations. The great interest felt in this colony in this question must constitute my excuse for troubling your Lordship on the subject.-I have the honour to be, my Lord, your most obedient humble servant,
A. MCCONACHIE,
Chairman.
To the Most Noble the Marquess of Salisbury, |
K.G., &c., H.B.M.'s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
THE CHAMBER TO THE BRITISH MINISTER.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
4th August, 1896. Sir.-My Committee will feel greatly obliged your Excellency can furnish any further information, since their interview with you in April last, of the progress of the negotiations
if
with the Chinese Government in reference to the opening to foreign trade and steamer navigation of the inland waterways of the Two Kwang provinces.
A similar application has been addressed to the noble lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of which I beg to forward for your Excellency's information. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
To His Excellency Sir Claude Macdonald,
K.C.M.G., H.B.M.'s Minister to China.
COLONIAL SECRETARY TO CHAMBER.
159
task even to compile approximate returns, and hence the question arises whether it is worth while making the attempt at all
As instances of the deficiencies in the table, reproduced hereunder, I venture to offer the following remarks:-
Articles.
Imported 2,760,954 tons of cargo ás under
1895. Increase. Decrease.
3,848
147 2,340 300 563,767
Beans
Bones
Coal
Copra..
Coffee.
Cotton Ebony Flour. Hemp Kerosine (bulk) Kerosine (case)
1894.
3,995
2,040 562,909
10
Fo
858
L
500
500
50
50
400
400
60,250
101,767 41,517
1,200
1,200
31,462
24,450
7,012
68,905
42,601
26,304
(1,929,340 (1,192,828
(736,512,
Cases)
cases)
cases)
Lead Oil
1,350
1,350
3,804 3,348
456
Opium Реда
2,825
2,463
-361
1,060 1,060
Rattan
625
625
619,075
764,368 145,293
6,250
6,250
50
50
1,625
1,262
$63
1,300.
600 500
700
**
500
170,499
185,616
15,117
350
20
330
16,040 170
26,389 800
10,349
630
53,672
Rice Salt Saltpetre Sandal-wood. Sapan-wood Sulphur.. Sugar............ Tea...... Timber Vermicelli. General....
Total ......
1,079,676 1,026,094
90,030
2,625,610 2,760,954 225,374 Referring to the articles, the figures for the following may, in the opinion of the Committee, be regarded as almost absolutely correct Opium, Coal, Kerosine.
The subjoined are no doubt fairly correct:→→→ Rice, Bones, Flour.
The articles in the next class are probably understated:-Timber, Beans, Copra, Hemp,
Qil.
The returns for the following are, they submit, positively incorrect:-Coffee, Cotton, Ebony, Peas, Lead (annual import at least 10,000 tons), Rattans (import not less than several thousand tens), Salt, Saltpetre (import some thousands of tons), Sulphur, Tea, Vermicelli (import several thousands of tons).
The Committee trust that His Excellency the
Governor will understand that the foregoing criticisms are offered in no carping spirit, but simply with a desire to prevent undue impor- tance being attached to returns which they imagine must have been compiled from in many cases more or less imperfect sources of infor- mation. I have the honour to be, sir, your
most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary. To Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial
Secretary.
COLONIAL SECRETARY TO CHAMBER..
Colonial Secretary's Office,
13th August, 1896. Sir, I am directed to acknowledge the re- ceipt of your letter of the 4th instant on the subject of the statistics of trade which appear in the Harbour Master's annual report.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
12th August, 1896. Sir,-With reference to your letter of the In reply I am to point out that the ability of 2nd March I am directed to inform you that the Chamber to criticise these returns in such the Canton Government, acting under orders a manner as is done in your letter would seem from the Tsungli Yamen, has paid to Her to indicate that it has at its command informa
of tion which might render the Harbour Master's Majesty's Consul at Canton the sum $2,182.52, being the amount of the claim- pre- returns more accurate, and consequently more ferred on behalf of Mr. John Andrew for losses valuable, than they are at present. caused by the illegal action of the Wuchoufu authorities. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
Colonial Secretary, The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
THE CHAMBER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
4th August, 1896. Sir, In the well meant and most praise- worthy attempt in the Harbour Master's report for 1895 to furnish statistics of the trade of this port, my Committee have noticed some apparent errors, which, as tending to neutralise the value of the returns and possibly to mislead, they feel it their duty to point out.
The absence of any machinery for collecting these statistics renders it, of course, a difficult
I am accordingly to request that, if there is no objection, the Chamber will be so good as to afford this information to the Harbour Master, or favour him with its valuable assistance in obtaining it.---I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce. THE CHAMBER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
31st July, 1896 Sir,-This Chamber, naturally regardful o any question bearing on the prosperity port, is anxious to see that no impost lev a special object should be suffered ther become a permanent charge on the frequenting it.
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