508
of the Committee for his good offices had been despatched to Mr. Fraser.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The foreign fire brigade composed of young | this had been done, and conveying the thanks men of British, Swiss, and German nationality, who intend to remain on shore quartered in Ker❘ & Co.'s premises to guard foreign property against fire, applied for permission to the Spanish to be allowed to receive arms, but after due consideration the authorities decline to ex-
tend their consent.
Finally, the rebels may break through at any moment, and once within the walls of old Manila the Spanish must capitulate or be bombarded: and they cannot stand the latter. Provisions are also scarce, although we bave not got up to the "horse-eating stage "so graphically described by one of your epicurean correspondents. But buffalo meat was placed on Saturday on the market at 40 cents, a pound, which is not far off, and if cleanliness be taken into con sider- ation one might after due gastronomical re- flection prefer horse.
P. S.-The Spanish are going to block the Pasig at Sta. Mesa, and the wounded have all been brought down from the churches at Sta. Anna.
The Yuensang leaves for Amoy and Hong. kong on the 14th with 22 English and French nuns, several British ladies, and thousand Chinese.
All is reported quiet at Cebu.
а
Manila, 17th June. There is little fresh news to report in connec- tion with the situation here, which remains practically unchanged. A few days ago the insurgents captured the northern suburb of Manila, called Calocan, and skirmishing pro- ceeds at irregular intervals day and night.
On Monday last the Carabineros, ie., sailors (native) attached to the Customs, murdered their officers and got safely away with their arms to the main body of the insurgents.
Provisions are daily growing more scarce, and the buffalo meat cannot last long. To-day it was retailed in the market at eighty cents Mexican per pound.
British Consul Walker, who was living at Sta. Ana until last Saturday, is at present sleeping on the Immortalité, landing to transact his duties daily at the office. His cause for doing so was that the Spanish blocked the river above Ste Mesa to prevent the rebels getting through. He talks about coming on shore again. Vice Consul Ramsden is still living at Sangaloong, where, what with the rebels and Spanish volleys, he has a fairly interesting time of it.
HONGKONG general CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE,
At the monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held at 2.45 p.m. on Wednesday, the 15th June.-Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray (Chairman), Herbert Smith (Vice-Chairman), A. Haupt, H. A. Ritchie, N. A. Siebs, T. H. Whitehead, and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting (held on the 11th May) were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. G. P. Lammert and Messrs. Smith, Bell & Co. had been elected members since last meeting.
THE RECTIFICATION OF THE COLONY'S BOUNDARIES.
Read letter from Government, dated 15th May, stating that the Chamber's supplemental despatch of the 13th idem had been forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for transmission to Lord Salisbury,
It was decided, in view of the public announce- ment by Reuter that the desired extension of territory had been secured, to publish the cor- respondence on this question, hitherto delayed in deference to the wish of H.E. the Acting
Governor.
AWARD FOR DISCOVERY OF (4
ROCK.
NAMOA
2
Read letter from H.B.M.'s Acting Consul, Foochow, announcing, payments to Capt. Pi, of H.I.C.M.'s gun-vessel Namtung of the $50 awarded for his services and enclosing formal receipt by Capt. Pi for same.
The Secretary reported that, at the Consul's request the amount had been paid in to the Consul's credit, and a letter intimating that
|
MR, WATTE'S CASE.
Read lettter from Mr. Pitzipios, Acting British Consul, Canton, dated 23rd May, enclosing a memorandum on the claim made by Mr. Watts against the Chinese Authorities by Mr. Brenan, in which that gentleman expresses an adverse opinion on the case.
Also read letter from Mr. Watts, dated 26th May, giving more explicit details of his case, and a second, received subsequently, traversing the conclusions set out in Mr. Brenan's memorandum,
It was decided to wait and see if new points could be raised with which to re-open the case.
PREMATURE PUBLICATION OF REUTER'S POLITICAL TELEGRAME.
time
A breach of the provisions of Ordinance No. 14 of 1894 having been committed by the China Mail and Daily Press by publishing a Reuter's telegram in advance of the prescribed, some correspondence had ensued with the editors of those journals on the sub- ject, to whom it was intimated that in the event of future infringement of the law the Committee might have to fall back on its strict letter for the protection of subscribers.
QUARANTINE,
Read letters from the Government, dated 31st May, enclosing copy of despatch_from Government of Bengal, stating that the Venice Sanitary Convention Regulations will be en- forced against arrivals from Jeddah only, and also copy of rules for quarantine for the port of Chittagong.
THE INDIAN CURRENCY COMMITTEE,
Read letter, dated 14th June, from the Gor- ernment transmitting copy of a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, au- nouncing the appointment of Sir Alfred Dent to the Committee appointed to consider the Indian Currency.
The question was deferred for consideration.
STORM WARNINGS FROM FORMOSA, The Chairman drew attention to the in- convenience that would be caused during the typhoon season by the cessation of the receipt of storm warnings from Manila in cousequel.ce of suspension of telegraphic communication with that port. He thought that if warnings could be obtained from South Cape, Formosa, the want might be in some degree made good..
It was decided to write to the Government and suggest that the Japanese Authorities in Formosa be communicated with on the subject.
THE VACANCY ON THE COMMITTEE.
The Chairman proposed Mr. A. McConachie as a member of the Committee in place of Mr. G. B. Dodwell, resigned.
The Vice-Chairman seconded and he was elected unanimously.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE RECTIFICATION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF HONGKONG.
The following correspondeuce is attached to the minutes of the last meeting of the Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce :—
THE CHAMBER TO THE ACTING COLONIAL
SECRETARY,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 4th May, 1898. Sir, I am directed by my Committee to Officer Administering the Government to be request that you will ask His Excellency the good enough to transmit the following telegram to the Foreign Office, debiting this Chamber with the cost of same :—
++
Chamber Commerce strongly urges necessity rectification boundaries colony. Letter follows."
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary. To Hon. T. Sercombe Smith, Acting Colonial
Secretary.
[June 25, 1898.
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY TO
THE
CHAMBER.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 5th May, 1897. Sir, I am directed to acknowledge the re- ceipt of your letter of the 5th instant request. ing His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to forward the following tele- gram to the Foreign Office on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce :
66
Chamber of Commerce strongly urges necessity rectification boundaries colony. Letter follow8.”
In reply His Excellency desires me to state that whilst eager for a rectification of the boundary line, he is of opinion that as the Im. perial Government is in possession of all the facts of the case and of the views of the Naval and Military Authorities and of the citizens of the colony on this subject it would be inex- pedient, without being able to adduce any new facts, merely to telegraph the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce, already well known, on a subject which the newspapers show us was one month ago constantly before the Imperial Go- vernment.
I am further to add that His Excellency deprecates at the present a public discussion of this matter as not being likely to advance the object desired.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
THE CHAMBER TO THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 5th May, 1898. Sir, I have the honour to forward to you a despatch in triplicate addressed to the most noble the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, following up telegram of yesterday, which my Committee respectfully beg His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to kindly transmit through the usual channel.-I hare the honour to be, sir. your most obedient
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary.
servant,
To Hon. T. Sercombe Smith, Acting Colonial
Secretary.
THE CHAMBER TO THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce;
Hongkong, 5th May, 1898. My Lord Marquis,-The fact that this Cham- ber is a more or less cosmopolitan body, formed solely to promote and protect the interests of commerce, has induced the Committee to strictly confine their attention to matters connected with trade. Since, however, inaction at the present crisis of the colony's history might be open to misconstruction-this Chamber being unquestionably the most representative institu- tion in Hongkong-my Committee have decided to lay their views on the proposed rectification of the boundaries of the colony before your Lordship.
The moment appears to my Committee to be peculiarly favourable for the negotiation of such a demand. The Chinese Government have
proved their incapacity to uphold the neutrality of any portion of their territory, and it is there. fore imperative that any Chinese territory commanding the approaches to the harbour of Hongkong should be placed in British hands.
This Chamber can fully endorse all that has been advanced in favour of the extension of the boundaries of the colony by the China Asso-
civil, naval, and military. It is of vital im ciation, the Navy League, and various officials, portance to the residents of all nationalities here engaged in commerce that that commerce should be secure from molestation, and that the docks, banks, factories, and godowns in which they hold large interests should not be at the mercy of a bombarding force. Where there is vast capital invested, the first element desired is security from loss through sudden attack by an outside foe, and while there is good reason to hope for the continued preservation of peace, it would be more satisfactory to be assured that the wealth created here by commercial enter-
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