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December 23. 1899,]
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER nott bra is OF COMME CH.
At the monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held on Thursday, the 14th Decem ber, 1899, at 3 p.m.,-Present: Masts. R. M. Gray (chairman), A. McConachie (Vice-Chair- man), A. Haupt, Sir Thomas Jacksóu, Mr. N. A. Biebs, and Mr. R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
MIN TES.
The, minutes of the previous monthly meet ing (held on 2nd November) were read and confirmed.
Read letter from Hon. T. H. Whitehead stating that, owing to a meeting of the Legis- lative Council having been called for the same hour, he would unable to attend.
·RESIGNATION OF MEMBER,
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. W.
Poate, dated 12 h instant, tendering his resigna- tion as a member of the Committee owing to his departure for home.
This resignation having been accepted. The Chairman proposed that Mr Herbert Smith be invited to fill the vacant seat at the Committee.
The Vice-Chairman seconded, and the reso- lution was carried unanimously.
THE PROJECTED NEW POST OFFICE,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
| day, and a letter despatched to Government ask- ing that the second reading might be postponed for a week to give time for cousi leration of the
measure,
Read letter from Colonial secretary in reply. dated 13th December, acknowledging receipt, and saying that the Bill would be postponed accord ingly.
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Some discussion took place où the question, and after consideration it was resolved to write again to the covernment to the effect that the Committee were strongly of opinion that the goods named, viz, percussion caps, priming caps, and empty sporting cases, should not, having regard to the decision of the authorities on explosives quoted, be classed as Dangerous goods," and they hoped the Gov- ernment would take the same view.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL CONGRI 88 AT PHILADELPHIA,
A latter, dated the 30th October had been received from Mr. A. M. Townsend, New York, Agent of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank ing Corporation, handing the Chamber a copy of the proceedings ou China Day at the Commercial Congress at Philadelphia, which he said was well attended; and he believed would help considerably to increase the interest in the United States in the trade and politics of the Orient.
The Chairman said they were very much in In accordance with the decision come to at debted to Mr. Townsend for the trouble he had last meeting, a letter was, on the 3rd November, taken on behalf of the Chamber in attending addressed to the Government forwarding copy the meeting of the Philadelphia Congress and of the resolution passed by the Committee in there giving expression to views which must connection with the projected new Post Office. meet with the approval of all members of that The receipt of the foregoing despatch was Chamber. He begged to propose a vote of acknowledged, on the 8th November, by the thanks to Mr. Townsend for so ably represent Colonial Secretary, who added that the questioning the Chamber at the Congress. of a new Post Office was under the considera. tion of the Government.
THE DISCRIMINATING DUTY IMPOSED ON
FORMOSA TEAS.
Read letter, dated 15th November. re.eived from the Government enclosing copy of a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, acknowledging receipt of Chamber's letter on above subject and stating that it had been laid before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
CABLE RATES PROM INDIA TO EUROPE,
The Secretary reported that another reply to the Chamber's circular letter of 16th August covering copy of resolution on above subject
The Vice-Chairman seconded, and the resolu❘ tion was carried by acclamation,
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT
BILL.
The Secretary reported that the papers em- bodying the various suggestions made by differ- ent members of the Chamber had been returned by the Acting Attorney-General, who stated that some of the suggestions had been adopted while others had been rejected.
The report of the Law Committee had been laid on the table of the Legislative Council.
THE VICEROYALTY TO THE TWO KWANG,
had been received, viz., from the Brisbane [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “DAILY PRESS."] Chamber of Commerce.
PROPOS D REDUCTION OF TELEGRAPH
RATES FROM FAR KABT TO
EUROPE.
Shanghai, 20th December.
LI HUNG-CHANG SUCCEEDS TAN.
Tan, Viceroy of the Two Kwang, bas been ordered to Peking
Li Hung-chung has been appointed cting Viceroy,
AFFAIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The Secretary stated that letters of acknow- ledgement of Chamber's circular letter of 6th October enclosing a set of resolutions passed on the above subject had been received:Ou 7th November from the Manila Chamber of Com merce, on the 15th November from the Bombay Chamber, on the 22nd November from the Yo- [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “ DAILY PRESS.' kohama Foreign Chamber, on the 25th No. vember from the Madras Chamber, on the 7th November fron the Hiogo and Osaka Chamber, and on the 6th December from the Raugoou Chamber.
THE SYSTEM OF LEVYING FINES | FOR OFIUM SMUGGLING AT SAIGON, Read letter from the Government, dated 27th November, stating, with reference to previous correspondence on the sbore subject, that the matter of the application of the law for ht prevention of smuggling into Saigon had been represented to the French Government, and is at present under its consideration. ALATHR-DANGEROUS GOʻds amendment
ORDINANCE, 1899.
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MANILA, 20th December,
GENERAL | AWTON KILLED.
Major-General Lawton, commanding the First Division Corps, was killed yesterday, i an attack on San Mateo, by sharpshooters, who opened fire from across the river, eighteen miles from Manils.
THE PROGRESS OF THE INSURRECTION,
HIGH PRICKS BEMAIN UNDISTURBED.
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but after four hours' fighting the Filipinos gave up the position and fled into the billa, leaving 70 dead and wounded in the pass." he loss to the Americans was 2 killed and 12 wounded. Part of the time the men could not see one another, as the winding of the pass left only very short straight ranges and the uimble enemy was sont- tered about in the brushy hill sides, Mnoh havoc was done by the small mountain guns; which barst their schrapnel against the rocky angles of the pass, causing the balls to ricochet and glance off in a hundred directions. On December 1st Bachelor's battalion of the 25th Infantry (coloured) left Bayombong and commenced a march up the great valley of the Rio Grande de Cagayan, which ends at Aparri, the most northern part of Luzon. Since that time nothing has been heard of the outfit and grave fears are beginning to be felt for the safety of the little band of 300 odd men. On the 8th and 9th the navy sent up several gun. boats and a battalion of the Marine corps from Cavite, and it is probable that they baye al ready landed and taken possession of Aparri From that place they will send a force down the Rio Grande to attempt a junction with the coloured troops if they have not been heard from.
On Saturday the Oregon, & gunboat, and a supply ship sailed for Subic Bay, where it is proposed to land and occupy the town of Olongapo and cooperate with the troops under General Grant, who is marching across country through the Zambales hills to the west of the railroad.
The south line is still undisturbed, and a kind of understanding seems to exist, so that there are practically no hostilities at present. In a few days, however, the ball will very likely begin and the provinces of Cavite and Batangas will be opened to trade and commerce. A very hopeful feeling exists about head- quarters and indications point to the early opening of the ports of the southern isl dns. Such a move would be eagerly welcomed by the merchants, who have been suffering for months on account of the stagnation of coastwise trade. MacLeod & Co. are about the only hipping firm that have enjoyed any business for several months, and they have no doubt reaped some profit through their contracts with the American Government. All branches of trade, especially the retailers, are feeling the general business depression caused by the on the lines, leaving only the smallest possible absence of the troops, who have been sent out
number to garrison Manila. In spite of the opening of the provinces of northern Lüson, prices of food and domestic commodities remain at a ridiculously high mark. The same "holds true in uearly every line outside of foodstuffs also. The banks lead the van in the wholesale robbery that is so common throughout the city that people are beginning to lose sight of the outrages practised upon them.
A short time ago the US. Army Paymaster took the matter in hand and by his energetic methods be forced the banks to the exchange of $2:06 for American gold while the selling rate stood at $11; but Colonel - MòClure has returned to Americs and exchange is again going down and has already reached $203, The unfortunate depositors of gold are “let in " on both ends of the game, and anyone desirous of hearing a choice line of `select and varied profanity, can hear it to his heart's content by spending a half hour at any time during the business hours of the Banks, addonf
Americans are rank fools in allowing them- selves to be systematically “done” on almost every proposition before them, but they sit and growl and swear and kick all to no purpose. Dealers openly laugh and 'joke about it as they raise their pricen 10 to 100 për cent. on'“the shrewdest business ́men on 'earth,” and, what, in is most surprising. they get it. No doubt they for the falling off in the number of the custom. look upon it that the Americans are responsible
ers and they propose to make up the 'deficiency in the gullibility of a remarkable numbög 82
good things.”
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Manila, 11th December. The theatre of the insurrection remains in * A letter having been reveived, on tho 11th northern Luzon and day by day the troops are December, signed by Messrs. Meyer & Co. penetrating further and further into the boasted Siemsson & Co., Carlowits & Co., Lauts, Weg- stronghold of the insurrection. ener & Co., ander, Wieler & Co., drawing hotly contested fights, about which one hears Fierce and the attention of the Committes to the fact that very little in Manila, are of almost daily occur- certain articles hitherto not considered danger euce. The principal actions now take place in ous, or subjected to any restriction in haudling, the hills and the numerous mountain passes that had been included in the list of "Dangerous seem to divide up the northern country into so Goods,” in the Bill now before the Council, many blocks and valleys. On the 9th inst. and forwarding, in support of the contention General Young attacked « large and strongly The minstrel troupe of H.M.8. Bonaventure that such goods should not be classed as dan entrouched force about 18 miles north-west of | gave an entertainment in the Lyceum Theatre gèrons, copies of letters from bigli authorities Cerrentes in a narrow pass. The enemy.had | Shanghai, on the 15th- instant, for, the homeật on the subject, action was promptly taken, as placed unmerous entanglements and pitfalls that of the Transvaal War Fund, Tholiaking the Bill was down for second reading on that considerably annoyed the advanos of the troops; ! realised $1,500.
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