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we have nothing definite to lay before you, though it is a matter of great local importance. I allude to a demand made on this colony for a largely increased contribution to the mail sub- sidy. As you are aware, a sub-committee con- sisting of the Vice-Chairman and Messrs. Ede and Whitehead consented to make a report to the General Committee and thoroughly threshed out the question, marshalling a strong array of arguments proving the unfairness of the grounds on which the proposed addition to our contribution was based. A despatch embody ing the major part of their report was sent to the Government to be forwarded home, and so far, I am sorry to say, nothing beyond a bare acknowledgment of its receipt has reached us, but we shall be well content if the arguments it contained have proved convincing at the Trea- Bury. Considerable correspondence on the registration of trade marks in this colony ensued on reference to the Chamber by Govern ment of a suggestion by a Manchester firm to the effect that some general scheme of registra tion applicable to the whole of the British Empire should be undertaken, which your Com- mittee were unable to endorse, as it is put ont of court by the great attendant expense. As 80 outcome, however, the Chamber were enabled to obtain an opinion from the Attorney-General as to the relative value of home and colonial regis tration, which should prove useful data in the fu- ture. Frequent complaints have been made of the working of the Post Office Whether it be that the staff is inadequate or the accommodation insufficient the fact remains that the servivce
us.
[April 9, 1898.
MR. GRANVILLE SHARP AND THE LIGHT DUES,
#
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
become a thing of the past. Up to the present all action has been unproductive of result in this matter owing to the Tsung-li Yamen
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP said-Mr. Chair- insisting upon documentary proof of the practice, though they must be perfectly aware these annual meetings I have had pleasure in man and gentlemen. On former occasions at that such proof is virtually unobtainable. referring to the clear, succinct, and vigorous Signs are not wanting that the system of in- ternal taxation in China is about to undergo a
reports which the committee has presented to great revolution, and it is to be hoped that
The present is no exception to the rule. The committee has been vigilant, assiduous, among other changes the plan of maintaining and devoted and our Secretary has shown him- two rival customs services will soon be a thing self just as good at writing letters as he did of the past. An appeal was made a few months erstwhile in writing leaders. There is in the ago by a Hongkong trader for assistance in pre-opening paragraph of the report, which I will senting a claim upon the Canton Authorities confine the few remarks I make to, a passage for loss suffered through the intervention of which has attracted my attention. In referring the local officials at Fuchuen in Kwangsi. Mr. to the relief which the shipping has experienced Watts had purchased some coal as an experi- by direction of the Right Hon. the Secretary mental cargo from the reputed owner of the of State for the Colonies, the paragraph closes mine in Kwangsi, and left for Canton in the belief that it would be duly delivered. But the principle of having resort to light dues' for thus:-" Bearing in mind, however, that the coal was not forthcoming, owing to the action of the authorities. Mr. Brenan repeatedly ap- urgent necessity has been endorsed by the purposes of general revenue in any case of plied to the Viceroy for an explanation from the Fuchuen officials, and only within the last Chamber to keep a watchful eye on this Secretary of State, it will be necessary for this few days we learn that the explanation given by the Fachuen Magistrate is that the coal question in the future." I turn over to find out what the Secretary of State bad said, and was not the property of the seller. Just before I find that in the last paragraph of his letter coming to the meeting I have seen the copy of he writes thus:-"I desire to add that if at a letter from Mr. Watts making further pro- any time hereafter urgent necessity should test to the Consul and the case remains open. arise Much as it would have pleased your Committee to be able to co-operate with the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, we were unable to com- ply with their invitation in August last to do so in taking action to secure fixity of exchange, by suggesting some alteration in the existing currency to the Government. There seems to have been great difference of opinion in the Singapore Chamber on this complex problem of the silver question; but here we could feel none as far as the standard is concerned, as it is quite impractical to effect a divorce from the currency of China, where our main trade lies and with whom we are in such close proximity. The proposal was, however, carefully weighed and considered at a special meeting of the Com- mittee called for that purpose and a reply in ac- cordance was made to the Singapore Chamber. The thanks of the Chamber are again due to its representative in the Legislative Council for the energy and vigilance with which be has watched over the interests of the colony generally, more especially in the matter of the light dues, the military contribution, and the cost of adminis- tration. These and other questions in which the welfare of the colony and the promotion of trade are bound up, will, we may be sure, al- ways be taken a deep interest in by Mr. White- head. There have been few changes in the Committee during the year. Mr. Michaelsen, who had for some eleven years given most will- ing and efficient service, resigned in December, as he was leaving the colony, and Mr. Haupt was invited to fill the vacancy. It will be ne- cessary for you to-day to elect a new Committee. All the outgoing Committee have consented to serve if elected. The roll of members has been still further increased, five new members having joined since last meeting, and their election will require confirmation at this meeting. On the other hand the Chamber has lost two members. A further improvement is apparent, I am glad to say, in the finances of the Chamber. We have now a sum of $4,000 on fixed deposit, and have carried forward a credit balance of $1,473.62. Under these circumstances and, seeing that the work of the Chamber is steadily increasing, your Committee, at the com- mencement of the current year, considered that they were justified in making a long needed improvement in the salaries of the Secretary and olerk. (Applause.) I should like here to ac knowledge the able services of our Secretary, whose time is now more called upon by the in- creased duties, and who by giving that time is able to get the business of the Chamber more promptly attended to. (Applause.) I think, gentlemen, I have now touched upon all ques- tions calling for special observations from me, and have purposely refrained from alluding to the political situation, which is somewhat in- volved. Before proposing the adoption of the report and the accounts, the Committee will be glad to hear any discussion on the various mat- ters that have been dealt with, or to hear any views on other subjects which members may wish to present. (Applause.)
needs improvement and it is to be hoped that the Government will take the matter seriously in hand. Turning from questions of local interest to those affecting trade with China, we have first cause for congratulation in the opening of the West River to foreign trade and navigation, which took place on the 4th June last. It is of course too early yet to speak very decidedly as to results, but that this is a move in the right direction and will eventually largely benefit trade there is no room to doubt. Meanwhile it is satisfactory to hear the report that this was merely the prelude to the opening up of all the inland waterways of China to foreign commerce, and which if carried out in its entirety will concede trade facilities hitherto unhoped for. The use of transit passes has now become general in the south of China, and although cases have occurred calling for con- sular intervention, there has been much less friction than might have been expected, and it is now given out under the authority of the foreign Customs that merchandise may be sold en route with the observance of ordinary formalities, instead of being required to be taken to the destination named on the pass. Thus another obstacle to trade has been withdrawn and has made the air clearer, but what stands in our way now is the Tso-li or destination tax, which is practically an undefined quantity and may be exacted on goods arriving at their destination under transit pass or otherwise. Your Committee have recently received a despatch from H. M. Consul-General at Canton, stating that the Canton authorities have sup- plied him with a tariff of the lekin charges at the 49 lekin stations in the Kwangtung Province, and that the Tso-li tax on most foreign imports is 2 per cent. ad valorem, but as there is no machinery for collecting this tax at other destinations, there is evident ground for presumption that irregularity may be practised in the collection. Such things as the illegal monopoly erected last May in Kwangsi, when the authorities farmed out to a native syndicate of merchants the right to lekin on matches and kerosine, will probably not trouble us again for some time. On having its attention drawn to the question by a complaint from Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg and Co. your Com- mittee at once addressed the British Consul in Canton on the subject, protesting against that privilege as a breach of treaty rights, and ask- ing for full information before addressing the British Minister at Peking. Thanks, however, to the Consular energy displayed in Canton, the farm was first suspended and then definitely abolished without necessity for further action on the part of the Chambar. We may hope, too, that before long even the preferential duties by which the Hoppo of Canton curtails the earnings of foreign steamers on the river will
I should be prepared to consider any proposal for increasing the general revenue for again raising the shipping dues, as I have no reason to think that the present charge has This was dated the 17th of March, 1897, and I borne very hardly on the shipping interests." believe is the only expression we have from Mr. Chamberlain upon the subject. He does not refer to the duty arising from light dues. He speaks of think the great difficulty of apprehending the shipping dues," and there I matter has arisen. This shipping "light" has been fanned and ventilated until it has shone so brightly that it has dazzled and perplexed those who have tried to examine into the ques- tion, and I am sorry that the term has been used, because I do not think it is applicable to the point. Our recent Governor, Sir William Council were all united as to the matter of the Robinson, and the members of the Legislative light dues that the complaint, if it may so be called, of the shipping was quite well founded, Rock Lighthouse was finished, for the continu- and it there was no reason, now that the Gap
as the committee seem concerned, is in the head- ance of the rate. The sting of the matter, as far the leading paragraph of their report. The sting as far as the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain is concerned seems to be in the tail-in the con- cluding words of his rejoinder, and both parties Colonies-seem to agree very fairly upon one -the committee and the Minister for the
point, and that is that the matter is not finally settled. The question seems to be not whether one cent or two and a half cents is to be levied upon shipping in Hongkong, but whether everybody who is interested in the colony should bear a share in its support-this large staff of Government officials who have to be well paid, the enormous police, and these essential public works, to say army of nothing of the contribution we have to make for the defence of this pied de terre, this foot- hold, this refuge for shipping in the Far East, and this place for the centralisation of our troops. I cannot believe that this memorial of the shipping class was intended as a real and bona fide conplaint against the levying of two and a half cents per ton. I believe it was a protest on their part against the-if I may use the word-extravagance which has characterised some departments of the Government in the past and the fear on their part that if this two and a half cents was fixed as the light dues there would top of that as exigency might arise. At present be presently another cent and another on the
in Hongkong all is smooth sailing. Our shares are at a good price; property is fairly maintained; business, I understand, is good, and there is peace around; but may we not feel that this aspect of affairs may be altogether and very suddenly changed? May we not have a large addition to the necessary expenditure not only of the Imperial Government but of the colony in an addition-a very considerable addition to the troops which we have in this island, and is it the time for us to be question. ing and grumbling and guarding against
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