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HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER
AO OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce-Present Messrs, R. M. Gray (chairman), A. MöConachie (Vice-Chairman), A. Haupt, Sir Thomas Jackson, Messrs. W Ritchie, N. A. Siebs. Hon. T. H. Whitehead, and Mr. R. C. Wilcox (Secretary). MINUTES.
The minutes of the last monthly meeting (held 10th July) were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER.
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On the motion of Mr. A. Haupt, seconded by Mr. N. A. Siebs, Messra. Wendt & Co. were unanimously elected to membership of the Chamber subject to the usual confirmation at the next annual meeting.
HEUTER'S POLITICAL TELEGRAMS. The Secretary reported that, in accordance with the vote taken at the previous meeting, a reply w was, on the 11th July, addressed to Reater's Agent agreeing to raise the subscrip- tion from $300 to $400 per month, but express. ing the hope that a further and commensurate improvement would be made in the service, and also suggesting improvements in the commercial telegrams supplied direct to the community. A reply has been received to this asking for details in regard to the latter suggestion.
The Chairman said they had received a good ṛnumber of suggestions for the improvement of "the commercial telegrams, which were under
consideration.
DIFFERENTIAL DUTIES ON JUNK-BORNE GOODS.
It having been found impracticable to furnish statistics that would usefully illustrate the case against the Hoppo, a letter was, on the 18th July, addressed to H.B.M.'s Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, a copy (with covering letter) being at the same time forwarded to the local Govern- ment.
The latter despatch was acknowledged, under date of 22nd July, when the Governor expressed the earnest hope that the Chamber's represent ation may conduce to a satisfactory settlement of this important question."
C BILL TO AMEND THE RAW OPIUM ORDIN-
ANCE, 1889.
After some further consideration, a letter was on the 20th July, addressed to the Colonial Se- oretary offering a criticism of this Bill and making various suggestions thereon.
ORDINANCE FOR PREVENTION OF CONCEAL-
·MENT OF OPIUM ON SHIPS.
On 20th July a letter was addressed to the Government approving this measure, which came before the Legislative Council on the 8th August, and passed through the Committee
SUBSIDIARY COINAGE QUESTION. A despatch, dated 25th July, had been received from the Government forwarding copy of a re- port by the Committee appointed by H.E. the Governor to enquire into this question, together with a minute by Mr. Whitehead, who had not signed t
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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|1-That the rate from India to Great Bri- | tain, which is now 4s. per word, is excessive and admits of substantial reduction, madrat
2.That the Chamber is of opinion that a reduction of the traiff would be followed by a sensible increase in the traffic If there is any hesitation on this account, the Government should, as was done in the case of the Austra lian Colonies. give the Telegraph Cos. a limited guarantee against loss of revenue.
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3.-That the principle of cheap telegrams should follow the concession of a penny post, as it is certain to prove a powerful factor in promoting trade with the Mother Country; and that, so soon as the time seems ripe, an all-British line should be constructed between the United Kingdom and its great colonies and dependen. oies either by laying a cable the whole distance touching only at British ports or by completion of the existing land lines."
'THE BREAK-UP OF CHINA.” Read letter from President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the United King. dom, thanking the Chamber for the cordial reception and assistance given to Lord Charles Beresford, M.P., on the occasion of his visit to Hongkong, and asking the Chairman's accep- tance of a copy of the noble lord's book entitled "The Break-up of China."
A reply acknowledging receipt of volume and returning thanks for the compliment was despatched by the Chairman on 31st July, THE PROHIBITION OF THE IMPORT OF FLOUR
INTO COCHIN-CHINA.
The Government having submitted a letter from the British Consul at Saigon on the above subject for inspection by the Chamber, copies were suplied to the local Press.
This elicited a letter from the Sperry Flour Co., commenting on the Consul's communica tion and asking for definite official information on the subject."
Inquiries were accordingly addressed by the Chamber to the French Consul at this port on the subject, who not only supplied all the information then at his command but courte ously telegraphed to the Governor-General of Indo-China, and communicated His Excellency's cabled reply to the Chamber,
A letter thanking M. Le Roux for his prompt and courteous attention was addressed to him on the 8th instant, and extracts from
the Consul's letters were forwarded to the
Sperry Flour Co. on the 3rd and 8th idem.
IMPOSITION OF DISCRIMINATING DUTY ON
FORMOSA TEAS.
A letter having, on the 28th July, been re- ceived from the Amoy Chamber of Commerce, enclosing copy of a despatch addressed by that body to H.B.M.'s Minister at Tokyo protesting against the action of the Japanese Government in imposing a discriminating daty on Formosa teas of yen 1.60 per pioul if shipped to foreign countries whilst allowing the leaf to be shipped from Formosa to Japan free and thenos ex ported abroad free of duty, and appealing to this Chamber for support in making the protest.
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ahon the report, being of opinion that it port of the Amoy protest, and on same date
further..
Chairman read some correspondence be - tween Mr. Whitehead and the Chairman of Committee (Hon. A.M. Thomson) in which the former asked for further information, and ex. pressed the opinion that while approving the the report generally he thonght it should go farther.
Some conversation ensued with regard to the supply of Hongkong subsidiary coins, which
Bir
[Angust 19, 1899.
copies of the letter to the Colonial Govern- ment and to the British Consul at Canton.
COMPLAINT AGAINST POST OFFIC
ગમન
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On the Sat August a letter was received the Fooohow Chamber of Commerce, requesting the intervention of the Chamber to render re- currence of case, as stated, was briefly this The Chinglu case detailed impossible. The
left Foochow on 19th June for Australia direct via Hongkong, and all documents, letters of advice, &o., were posted by her, but instead of of being sent on in her this mail was landed in Hongkong and not transmitted until ten days later in the Futami Maru.
A letter was accordingly addressed by this Chamber on the 8th August to the Postmas tér General asking for an explanation.
The Chairman read a reply from the Post- master General received on the 9th stating that the Foochow Chamber had already addressed him directly on the subject and that he had replied to that body, ak dat
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Resolved to send copy of this letter to Foo chow Chamber and request to be favoured with a copy of the Postmaster-General's reply. ****-
THE SYSTEM OF TAXATION AT KIAOCHAU. Read letter dated Atheures, N.Z., 30th June, 1899, from the Katikati Road Bbard, stating that the New Zealand Press reported system of raising taxes had been adopted in German China, and asking, for particulars same and information as to local conditions.
Mr. Siebs said he believed there was a Cham- ber of Commerce at Kiaochau, which might be able to give the information. If not perhaps the Shanghai Chamber might afford its
THE TYPHOON AT FOOCHOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]. The memory of the oldest inhabitant is ticklish thing to play with, especially by a comparatively newcomer, but it is fairly safe to assume that a considerable time has elapsed since Foochow was visited by so destructive a typhoon as that of Saturday and Sunday, the telegraph gave warning of what was coming, August 5th and 6th. Both the barometer and but on Saturday morning people merely remarked that the weather was rather typhoony expected just yet a while. As the evening and that the Hongkong mail need not be
drew in on Saturday the wind steadily increased, and from the activity displayed on the craft in the river it was evident the junk and boat people feared they were going to have a bad time. By mid-day nearly all the sampans and house-boats had sought shleter, as also the steam-launches belonging to Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. and Messrs. Butterfield and Swire. The larger lighters and junks did the best they could in the way of extra moorings and waited for whatever might happen. There was a high tide and strong current, but the wind was so strong that most of the junks lay across the river. · ·
House-boats are not usually considered the best kind of ship for navigating in bad whether, On the 5th August, this Chamber addressed but about 6 p.m. on Saturday, when the wind a despatch to H, E. Sir Ernest Satow in sup.
was so strong that on-lookers were glad to get a good hold of something solid during the fre. informed the Amoy Chamber to that effect.quent squalls, one passed up showing just enclosing copy of the despatch. A copy with scrap of mainsail. She was coming along covering letter was likewise transmitted to the bravely, but when just opposite the Custom Government.
House her bit of sail split. Immediately the halyards were let go and two meu, active as oats, sprang aloft to foot the yard down, and by the time this was done and the sheet hauled in they had loosed the foresail and hoisted up a foot or two and were under control again.⠀⠀⠀
By the time darkness had set in there were
PIRACY IN THE TWO KWANG AND ITS:
EFFECTS; ON TRADE, Read letter and enclosures, signed by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. and Messrs. Reiss & Co., setting forth the disturbed condition of the Kwang provinces and the disorganisation
Jackson declared to be ample at of the silk trade, which was certain to extend few, if any, foreigners on the watch, but during
though the demand had lately been
to other branches of trade, in consequence of the night
the action of the pirates and banditti and the few slept wind blew so hard that probably
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CABLE RATES FROM INDIA TO EUROPE,
powerlessness of the local officials to grapple After consideration, the Committee, on the | with them. motion of Hon. T. H. Whitehead, seconded by The Chairman read a supplemental list of the Chairman, unanimously adopted the follow-piracies and robberies committed within the ing resolutions Law LIGH
last month, and also a letter from Messrs. A:This, Chamber having been asked to accord Bradley & Co., of that date, giving a practical ✅ its support to the effort now being made by instance of the interruption to trade caused by
Chambers of Commerce in India and other these lawless outrages. Fir Eastern countries to secure a reduction in the
legrams between the East and Great is heardly in sympathy with the ents, and hereby, records the following ze bed sed vers quinscite wrenuli
After considerable discussion, ⠀⠀ - It was decided to telegraph to the London Chamber of Commerce, confirming same by letter, to address the British Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject, and to forward
much. The morning showed the havoo that had been wrought. On the far side of the river (the left bank) the Foochow Saw-Mills Co's premises had suffered badly. The building containing the machinery, te. the saw mill proper, was not very much the worse, having lost a part of its roof only, but the large godown, used as drying room and store had collapsed like a house of cards. Boundary walls and three sides of the godown were so thoroughly beaten down that, hardly one brick remained upon another, Various rumours were current as to a number of men being buried in the debris. Some put the
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