10
the Chinese authorities, who would have be- headed him, and I might have got back the reward of $250, thus benefiting both parties, me and the Chinese authorities. Why should I myself do this P
His Worship informed prisoners that he proposed committing them for trial, and asked them if they had anything to say.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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Ng Ki Choung said- Lam Pak To arrested them. He killed him. I have nothing to do with it. They said that 1 said he was not a good man, but I was not the quly man to say that. The whole of Un Long said that he was not good man. Hans been in prison in China and in Hongkong. Very often he committed robbery and armed attacks. The Admiral lo Cheung Ching offered a reward of $250 for him Documents were issued to me from the Admiral asking me to deliver up. Chun Kwai Sui Ch. I handed the $250 reward to the Mandarin. The Admiral asked all the clansmen and rela tives the Chun family and us-to get money ready. The rule in China is when a reward is Lam offered any man can make an arrest Pak To was a constable at the Un Loong Sun Dai's place. When he was captured I told Lam Pak To to get back the $250 reward I sent him to the Mandarin. Tung Cheung Sz intended to kill Cheung Chai. Therefore they were done together. When Ng Feung Ching saved Tung Cheung, if he had not met Tung Cheung Sz they would not have died. I heard cries of "save life when I was sitting in an opium divau. I wanted to run Lam Pak To to esk him to send Chun Kwei Sui Chai to the Mandarin. When I reached there Tung Chenng Sz had already given the order to shoot. Tung Cheung Sz said." Why do you wish for the few hundred dollars so much? If I had wanted to kill him I would not have asked his relatives to bail him out. Lam Pak To made the arrest. I did no wrong. The other prisoners made statements some- what similar to those made by them when charged.
His Worship committed prisoners for trial on the charge of murder.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMEERCE.
ready a copy of the Bill would be transmitted to the Chamber for cousideration.
The CHAIRMAN said they could now only wait aud see what effect would be produced by the representations of the Consul at Saigon. Mean. time the Government here were preparing a Bill which it was hoped might be deterrent to persons attempting to smuggle from the Colony, though it seemed pretty certain that in moet cases the drug was concealed ou board after arrival at Saigou.
THE CANTON SUBSIDIARY COINAGE,
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[July 1, 1899.
addressing the Marquess of Salisbury on the 20th February, 1898. in the course of a lengthy despatch, remarks:-" Sir Robert Hart has been instructed to frame Regulations, which I hope will be satisfactory. Some regulations there must be, but I anticipate that the Yamen will try, under their cover, to take from the conces- sion most of its value, and it is very probable that strong pressure will be needed to prevent this. I feel confident that in resisting any such attempts I shall receive your lordship's support,"
Hon. J. J. KESWICK said that the interpreta. The SECRETARY reported that a reply on this tion put upon the Inland Regulations had ren- subject had been sent to Mr. Grant Smith indered the so-called opening of the West River practically valueless. The matter would come the terms decided at last meeting.
before the Chamber shortly.
The CHAIRMAN It is an unfortunate fact that the flooding of this Colony by the inferior small currency from the Canton Mint is nn- doubtedly of considerable public inconvenience, and to many a matter of pecuniary loss, but it seems very difficult at the moment to formulate a drastic remedy. The legal currency here is Mexican and British silver dollars and sub- sidiary coinage of the Hongkong Govern. ment, and the Government recognises on other coins in its receipts. At the present moment there is a very ample supply of Hongkong subsidiary coinage in the hands of the Hong. koug and Shanghai Bank for the Treasury, which is only waiting to be applied for by the public themselves, who should decline to accept any but Hongkong le šál tender.
Sir THOMAS JACKSUN said that as a matter of fact there was hardly any application now-a- !
tongkang subsidiary coins, and days for the that the whole colony was rerrun with the These coins were issued at a Canton coins.
discount, and it paid interested parties to push them into circulation. Formerly there was a demand for Hongkong coins from the Northern ports, but now they are supplied with the pro-
duce of the native mints.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said the Cauton Government were in affect exploiting Hong. kong's revenue by unfair means, and it was a question the Colouial Government should take up forthwith in self-defense.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN suggested that repre sentations be made to Government to constitute it a penal offence to be found in possession of the Canton coins after a certain period (to be fixed), and that the Government should be asked to supply the Chamber with a copy of the Straits Ordinance recently passed to exclude the Japanese yen.
At the monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on Monday, the 19th
Some further discussion ensued ou the sub- June. Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray chair. man), A. McConachie (vice-chairman). A. ¦ ject, and it was decided to address the Govern- Haupt. Sir Thomas Jackson, Hon. J J. Kes-mout asking for a copy of the Ordinance passed wick, Messrs. W. Poate, H. A. Ritchie, N. A Siebs, Hou. J. H. Whitehead, and R. C. Wilcox (secretary).
: MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting (held on 30th May) were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER OF COMMITTEF,
The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed the Hon. J. J. Keswick back again
at that table.
Mr. KESWICK thanked the Committee for the welcome accorded to him.
NEW MEMRER.
The SECRETARY reported that-lessrs. Banker & Co. had been admitted to membership of the Chamber since last meeting.
THE SYSTEM OF FINES FOR SMUGGLING AT
SAIGON,
In accordance with the decision come to at last meeting, a further letter was on the 6th Jane addressed to the Government on this subject, bringing to their attention the case of the steamer Ingraban aud replying to the query raised in the letter of the Colonial Secretary dated 19th May.
A letter having been received on the 7th June from the master of the steamer Propontia giving information of the recent fining of his ship at Saigon in the sum of $5,000 owing to 263 taels of opium having been secreted on board,
Acknowledgment was made, stating that the matter had been laid before the Governinent. who were taking action thereon.
Read letter from Colonial Secretary, dateil 16th June, stating that a draft Bill would be prepared to constitute concealment of opium oli board a ship a penal offence, and that when
at Singapore to deal with the Japanese yen, and to suggest that steps be taken to prevent the entry and circulation of Canton subsidiary coins into the Colony.
LEKIN AND FOREIGN TRADE ON THE WEST RIVER
The SECRETARY reported that a letter of ac- knowledgment had been forwarded, under date 1st June, to Mr. E. T Snaggs, in reference
to his case at Samshui.
Referring to this question,
The CHAIRMAN said--The Tuland naviga- tion privileges which were launched with such a furish of trumpets as a valuable concession to Foreign Powers, and which privileges were even held out as a buit to this Colony to allow the permanent establishment of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs in our midst. so far turn out to be comparatively valueless. We have the case of Mr. Snaggs at Samshui, which is in the hands of the British Consul at Canton, and I understand that the River Companies' steamers plying between Canton and Wu chow have suddenly been deprived of these privileges. I have before me the very valu. the Trade of ible Consular Report on Wuchow for 1898 by Mr. Hosie, in which lie states: The inland waters of China were thrown open to steam navigation duting 1898, but so far as the West River is concerned they are still practically closed, for the conces- sion is hedged in by so many restrictions to preserve the revenue of the imperial' Maritime Customs, as to uullify the great benefits which an unrestricted opening would have conferred on the house or domestic trade of China." After which, Mr. Hos proceeds to explain the situation, which is har lly conceivable elsewhere than in China. Sir Claude MacDonald, when
THE REVIVAL OF AN ILLEGAL MONOPOLY
IN KWANGTUNG.
Acting on the decision taken at last meeting, a letter was, on the 1st June, addressed to H.B.M.'s Consul at Canton, forwarding copy of a translation of the proclamation by the Head Lekin Office, Kwangtung, announcing the establishment of a Farm for the collection of lekin on kerosine, and asking him to make representations to the Viceroy on the subject. that a protest had been made to the Viceroy, The reply to this, dated 2nd June, stating has already been published.
An acknowledgment of the above letter was
him for his prompt action in the matter. sent to the Consul on the 7th June, thanking
Read further letter from Mr. Mansfield, dated 8th June, enclosing copy of the reply of the Viceroy to his protest. The Consul asked to be furnished with the names of the Syndicate who were farming the lekin.
Read also letters from the Standard Oil Co., Messrs. Meyer & Co., and Messrs. Arnhold. Karberg & Co.. Agents Shell Transport and Trading Co., in reply to inquiries by the Secre tary, stating their inability to give names.
The CHAIRMAN-We have not been able to
discover who are the real parties interested in this Farm, but some light may possibly be thrown upon the question by the publication the other day in the Daily Press of the details of a similar farm of Kerosine Lekin in Hainan. where it is asserted that a Chinese born British subject holds half of the shares. It is to be hoped the British Consul at Canton will not relax his efforts until this Farm, like its pre-
abolished. decessor,
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDM| NT
ORDINANCE, 1899.
The SECRETARY stated that on the 6th June he had an interview with the Acting Attorney- General, when they went through the various suggestions and proposed amendments by the Chamber in the above Bill and he had supplied Mr. Pollock with all the necessary data. He had also handed to the Acting Attorney-General a copy of the letter received on the 12th June from the Star Ferry Co., Limited, setting forth that under the existing Ordinance the Company cannot get the upper decks of two of its boats registered though certified by the Marine Sur- veyor and other competent authorities and ask. ing the Chamber to embody in its recommenda- tions on the Shipping Amendment Ordinance, 1899. a suggestion for the licensing of vessels having upper decks fitted for passagers. He (the Secretary) had reason to believe that most if not all of the suggestions of the Chumber would be adopted.
THE PIERS RDINANCE, 1899. Read letter, dated 16th June, from the Col- onial Secretary, forwarding copy of a Bill entitled "The Piers Ordiuance, 1899," in which a new scale of changes is embodied, showing a considerable increase on the amounts litherto charged, but less than those proposed to be en- forced last year auder a new Order in Council, and against which the Chamber appealed as ex- cessive.
Considerable discussion took place on this measure, and it was eventually decided that the opinions of the wharf owners should be taken and a letter criticising the Bill addressed to the Government.
BILL TO AMEND THE RAW OPIUM ORDINANCE, 1887.
Read letter from the Colonial Secretary, dated the 16th June, transmitting copy of a draft bill to amend the Raw Opium-Ordin- ance, 1887, for consideration by the Chamber..
After some discussion.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.