The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1896-12-03 — Page 7

December 3, 1896.1

Lo

ARIFF

of Commerce, Botolph House, Eastcheap,

London, EC., 30th September, 1896. gretary, Chamber of Commerce, Hong-

Referring to your letter of the last, I have to inform you that this has been discussed by the East India radé Section of this Chamber. The upon in the speeches made given by this Chamber in of His Excellency Li Hung-chang when a London and has since been discussed at a #absequent meeting of the section. I enclose your information copy of letter which has been addressed to the Secretary of State for For- elgr Affairs on the subject-Yours faithfully,

KENRIC B. MURRAY,

Secretary.

Botolph House, Eastcheap,

London, EC., 30th September, 1896. My Lord,-The attention of this Chamber and of its East India and China Trade Section

been directed through communications of members, from Chambers of Commerce and other bodies concerned in Anglo-Chinese com- to the contemplated revision of the Chinese tariff and an increase in the rates of duty

This Chamber recognises that the exigencies the Chinese revenue require at this time nsidershon, and, provided it be made ine que non of conceding an increase

ate that the country be opened the introduction of improved means of unication, by the removal of all restrictions

CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Fin Peking is that, whilst unable to appoint official representatives on the suggested Com- mission regarding the taxation of Foreign trade and threatened exoise on the products of silk filatures and cotton mills, Ministers strongly favoured the formation of a committes of mer. chants for the proposed purpose and would wel come a comprehensive report thereon.

This Chamber therefore has formed a special committee of, merchants divided into sections dealing with the various trades and industries, vis.(1) piece goods, (2) general imports (oil, iron, &o), (8) tes, (4) raw silk, (5) general exports (straw braid, &c), (6) Alatures, factories, (7) cotton mills; and it will be of great as- sistance if your Chamber will co-operate by furnishing us with reports on such of the subjects as affect the interests of your port, in order that a general expression of opinion on the anomalies and irregularities of present taxation and possible means of equitable amendment may be compiled.--I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully,

GEO. D. SCOTT,

Acting Secretary.

THE INCREASE IN TELEGRAPHIC RATES.

· Peking, 19th October, 1896. Sir, I have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of September 29th for warding a report of a meeting of your Chamber, held on the 19th of that month, to discuss the recently concluded Telegraph Convention.-I am, sir, your obedient servant, The Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber of

CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.

Commerce.

China Association,

Shanghai Branch,

23rd October, 1896.

inted

be glad

that nt to general committee in Lond fully,

WH

Hon Bed

The Chamber

Bombay, 30t

The Secretary, Hongkong General

Commerce, Hongkong the thanks of the Comm

Dear Sir, I am

8th instant, Chamber of Com

reference to Companies mention rates for messages

between Hongkong and Sh.

time been engaging the atten

The subject of teleg

mittee, and they have frequer quite recently," protested charged by the Tele regret to say that not, up to the present, me success. If however, many sch action is put forward by Committee will be only and, if possible, support it yours faithfully,"

A. F.. BEAUFORT

Chairman,

THE OFFICIAL TELEGRAPHIC CODE

ider

VOCABULARY. General Post Office, London, 30th September, 188 Sir, I am directed by the

on the free navigation of every waterway and R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq., Secretary, General General to acquaint you for the j

in the empire, and by the full recognition transit pass system, and the absolute fion of goods from all other exactions of nature on the payment of 21 per cent. aby 24 provided by Treaty, the Cham

admit an addition of 2 per cent. ad the import and export duty, thus the customs duty 71 per cent., and, with

duty added, 10 per cent. in the aggre- gate, which is as heavy an impost as the trade indeed, such an addition can only be with approval on the clear under that it does absolutely cover every and that in the case of imports it Buch goods throughout the length and breadth of the Empire.

On the express conditions stated, this Cham- ber would, therefore, favour the collection of Import duty and transit dues by the Im- perial Customs Service at one payment (the amounts being kept separate, however, in account) and in order that the Provincial authorities should receive the transit dues they entitled to, the goods should be accompanied Customs transit pass bearing upon its face the amount of dues paid, which pass, when the goods have reached their transit destination, shall be encashed by the Imperial Government. It is difficult to suggest what protective mea- Bures could be taken to ensure respect through- out China of imported articles which have thus chased absolute éxemption from any further or impost of any kind, but experience t it is necessary to provide against of the conditions agreed upon, and to possess prompt means of redress. express the hope of this Chamber representations may receive your

Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong. Dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant covering a report of the proceedings at a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held on the 19th altimo, to protest against the action of the Telegraph Companies in raising the tariff. These docu- ments have been referred to the local com-

mittee..

on

The increase in rates was made in Shanghai without notice, the publication announcing that the new rates would come into operation until that date. Inquiries made by the local the 1st August not having appeared committee satisfied them that the Conven- tion had been signed by Her Majesty's Minister under instructions from the Im- perial Government, and that any protesta made by them must of necessity prove ineffec- the Chamber of Commerce in regarding the tual. They are, however, in perfect accord with action of the Telegraph Companies as utterly and they purpose addressing the general Com- unjustifiable and based upon inadequate reasons; mittee of the China Association in London, tion should be held in strict control because of pointing out that monopolies of every descrip- the natural tendency to benefit themselves at the expense of the general interest, and the incon- venience and danger incurred in accepting pro- positions the nature of which has been carefully concealed from foreign merchants affected lest the their opinion at a time when reason and protest latter should have an opportunity of expressing might have proved effectual,

While the local committee have very little vice, there will be the satisfaction of knowing hope that any effort they make will be of ser that a protest has been lodged against action which may, if allowed to pass unchallenged, form a regrettable precedent.

decision of the International · the Hongkong Chamber of Com ference of Paris, under which official vocabulary for code telegra by the International Telegraph Of would have become obligator code telegrams from the 1st has not been maintained by recently held at Buda-Posth

ostmaster-

ion of

the Con

The vocabulary is to be amended and enlarged and the use of the new vocabulary will not be future Conference, which will have, an obligatory until after a date to be fixed by some tunity of considering the whole question before coming to a final decision.

The next Conference will not be held before 1901.

In these circumstances the Director with the view of meeting the representatio the International Telegraph Office at Bern made by Chambers of Commerce and other, official vocabulary all the words to be foun proposes to reproduce in a revised edition o existing private codes, so far as these words International Telegraph Convention admissible under the regulations

In this manner it is intended that the vocabulary shall have the character o standard collection of wor ficiently extensive to choice in the preparatio

of the

on a scale

fall liberty of

of code:

the Director of the

With the view of carryin

Office has forwarded distribution in this

1 which a copy

to

Chambers of Commerce, the and others who desi codes appear ward to

graph

curre

I

vourable consideration în conneo- any negotiations which may be con- 7 Her Majesty's Government with the

The local committee will be very pleased to Chinese Government. am, my Lord, your assist in any movement calculated to lessen the

obedient servant

KENRIO B. MURRAY, .

evils of the telegraphio" monopoly in China', but they are sensible of the almost insuper charg Secretary n

able character of the difficulties they have them [arquis of Salisbury, Her encounter The Telegraph Companies of St for Foreign have for years endeavoured to carry, the sche Street, S.W) now perfected, and so far as the knowled

the committee extends they have succe effectually closing China to any whatsoever on the part of other": companies:

The local with you inability to

General Chamber of Commerce,

12th November, 1896 – General Chamber of Commerce

the recent Vintg the Foreign Ministers

ímittes are in ülk

recto

mber and deeply. grət thai The of substantial service.

Hongkong CH

intention