February 17, 1900.]
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hoogkong General Chamber 'of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on Monday, the 5th February, 1800,-Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray (chairman), A. McConachie (vice-chair- man,) A. Haupt, Sir Thomas Jackson, Hon. J. J. Keswick. Messrs. II. A. Ritchie, U. A. Subs, Herbert Smith, Hon. T. H. Whitehead, and R. C. Wilcox (secretary).-
MINUTES,
The Minutes of the previous meeting (held on the 15th Jaunary) were read and confirmed.
CABLE RATES FROM FAR EAST TO EUROPE,
In accordance with decision taken at last mesting, letters were addressed (1) to the Lou- don Manager of the Eastern Extension Tele- graph Co., acknowledging receipt of his reply to Chamber's letter of 22nd November, and asking to be furnished with a copy of the letter from the Company to the Goverument making a proposal for the general lowering of tariffs, and (2) to the local manager of the same com- pany enclosing copy of the foregoing and ask. ing if he would kindly make the inquiry by
wire to save time,
Read reply from Mr. Vonder Pfordten, dates 22ud January, stating that, if the Government approres, a copy of the letter in question would be posted from London at once.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
|
109
That the British Government be urged that | dinance now under consideration by the Legis. as the Canton Hongkong Railway with its lative Council, and at the same time must beg terminus in British territory will subserve Bri- you to excuse the unavoidable delay in its trans- tish trade mainly, Government should give every mission. support, including financial aid, to the enterprise if necessary.
MARINE SURVEYS.
Resolved,That a careful and thorough re- survey of the navigable channels and coast lines in the Eastern Seas is daily becoming more and more necessary in consequence of the rapid in- crease in the size and in the depth of steamers, ocean and coasting, employed in the trade, and that the British Government, being the leading naval power and as the owner of 62 per cent. of the total tonnage in Far Eastern waters, the Government should defray the expense of such re-survey.
PERMANENT COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.
Resolved. That it is highly desirable that during the interval between the periodical meet- ings of this Congress, the Chambers of Com- merce of the Empire should be represented in London by a permanent committee with a sec- retary to carry out the resolutions passed at this meeting, which would form a medium of communication between the different Chambers of Commerce and the Government, and would be able to prepare material for the next Congress. Considerable discussion ensued on these pro. posels, and eventually it was decided to frame resolutions on the subjec s ouly of restrictions on steam navigation on the Inland Nater. Also read letters from Glasgow Chamber of ways of China, the reduction of cable rates, Commerce, dated 20th December, in reply to and the re-surveys of Eastern seas, to be for- Chamber's letter of the 8th October, enclosing warded to the Loudon Chamber and submitted copy of correspondence with the Eastern Tele- by this Chamber's representatives at the forth- graph Co., Limited, who forwarded a memoran- coming Cougress. Copy of the three resolu duni re Indian Tariffe; and from the Sautions as revised are anoesed. Francisco Chamber of Commerce, dated 28th December, in reply to same circalar letter, aud also enclosing copy of resolution adopted by that body on 12th December, in reference to the subject.
It was decided to publish this and other cor- respondence on this subject.
THE FOURTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE OF THE EMPIRE, The Secretary stated that he had, as was decided at the last meeting, issued a circular to the members inviting suggestions with regard to the subjects to be forwarded to the congress in the shape of resolutions. To this appeal there had been two replies, which were laid on the table.
|
HONGKONG AND THE CANADIAN PREFEREN-
TIAL DUTIES,
A letter was, on the 19th January, addressed to the Government pointing out that Hongkong had been omitted from the list of British Colonies allowed by the Canadian Minister of Customs to participate in the benets of the British Preferential Tariff in Canada, and. believing this to be an oversight, Legging H. E. the Governor to represent the matter to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Read reply to above, received 30th January, stating that the question had been duly laid before the Secretary of State.
PROPOSED CONSERVANCY BOARD FOR THE
WOOSUNG RIVER,
The Chairman read these, the first consider- ed being a letter from Mr. Arnold, secretarying receipt of the despatch and copy of cor of the Hongkong. Canton and Macao Steam boat Co., Ld., iu which he suggested resolutions "the preferential duties accorded by the Hoppo of Cauton to juuk-borne cargo." and with regard to the res' rictions of the Inspector General of Customs on the West River Trade."
on
After some discussion.
It was decided, haring regard to the condi- tions mentioned in the letter of the Organizing Committee of the Congress, that the first named subject could not be introduced, being of too purely local a nature, but that a resolu- tion dealing with the manner in which the con- cession nominally opening the Inland Waters of China to navigation by foreign steamers, but rendering it impracticable by imposing ob- structions to trade, should be submitted to con- gress.
The Chairman then read the following draft resolutions submitted by Hon. T. H. White- head.
REDUCTION-CABLE RATES,
Resolved, That the stongest representations be made to the International Telegraph Con- vention, to the several Telegraph Companies, and to their respective Governments, with a view to an early reduction in the cost of telegraph rates on all lines, land and sub-marine.
RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. Resolved. That in view of the early con- struction of the Hankow-Canton Railway and the no distant opening of direct communication between the central and southern provinces of Chins, the short line connecting Canton with Hongkong should, in the interests of Hongkong and of British Trade generally, be in hand and completed as soon as possible, so as to be ready to carry the immense and increasing trade, both exports and imports, which must almost necessa- rily flow through Canton, and
|
The Secretary stated that a letter acknowledg.
respondence on this subject received from the Government, was addressed to the Colonial Secretary on the 19th January, expressing the hope that the Government would give its cordial support to the project on general principles, as the colony was deeply and directly interested in anything that would be likely to alleviate the excessive burdeus imposed on shipping frequenting Shanghai.
CHANGES IN THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.
Read letter, dated 11th Dec., from the Hon. Secretary of the Imperial Institute, enclosing copy of a memorandum sent, by direction of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, President of the Institute, to Governors of Colonies with the object of conveying an authentic account of certain modifications now in course of comple- tion in the arrangemen's of the Institute, certain erroneous statements having appeared in the Public Press on the subject.
Resolved to reply in acknowledgment of this communication.
REUTER'S COMMERCIAL TELEGRAMS. A letter was received on the 10th Jan. from Renter's Agent stating with reference to altera- tions and fadditions to the commercial service proposed by the chamber, the company were prepared to adopt certain of these, but others they were unable to accept owing to the cost.
The Secretary reported that a reply was des- patched on the 19th, stating that the committee accepted the proposals of the company and hoped the exchanges would be effected as soon as they could be conveniently carried out.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, 10th January, 1900.
I am instructed by the Cɔmmittee to state that they trust His Excellency the Governor will see his way to give full consideration to the amendments to the Bill suggested in tho enclosed minorandum, which has been compiled by those who are thoroughly conversant with all the aspects and conditions of the trade.
With regard to the proposed fee for a licence to import and deal in arms and ammunition, the amount fixed, riz, $1,200, appears to the Committee to be altogether excessive. The Government, it is presumed, in raising the fee from $10 is influenced by two rea. sons; on the one hand to cover the expense of working the provisions of the Ordinance; and, on the other hand, to ensure the respecta.. bility of the licensees. My committee submit that these objects might be attained by fixing the fee at some reasonable figure, and therefore strongly recommend this point to the reconsid-
ration of the Government.
The exemptious in clause 5 of the Bill to those persons required to obtain a licence to bear or carry arms should, the Committee think, be extended to all jurors, common as well as special. Because (as mentioned in the statement of objects and reasons, appended to the Bill) ons com non juror who has abused the privilege is surely a rery inadequate pretext for inflicting hardship on all the rest. To meet cases of that kind, a clause might le introduced into the Bill making such abuse punishable by flue and loss of the privilege in perpetuity. -- I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient serrunt,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
To Hon. Colonial Secretary
Memorandum submitted by the Importers and Wholesale Dealers, în Aruns and Aminuuit- in Hongkong on the subject of "A Bill, entitled An Ordinance to ameud and consolidate the law relating to the carriage and possession of Arms and Ammunition.
|
1. There is a very extensive trade ju arms and ammunition carrie l on in Hongkong. The large and by far the more important part of the trade is a wholesale trade, arms and ammuni- tion of all kinds being imported into the colony in bulk, being stored in the colony for longer or shorter periods according to the state of the market, and being exported from the colony in steamers under British and foreigu flags aud not in junks. That export trade is carried on with Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Tonquin aud Cocbiu China, the Straits Settlements, Java, Borneo and even with South America and Mexico.
|
|
2. There is also an extensive retail trade, the importer selling arms and ammunition in larger or smaller quantites to the local dealers, and the local dealers selling by retail to European customers either resident or in transit, and to Chinese, mainly small traders from neighbour- ing ports, casual visitors to the colony and to the junk people.
3. It is clearly recognized that the local trade in arms and ammunition and the carrying and possession of arms and ammunition in the colony
: must be regulated, but, except in so far as may be necessary for purely local purposes and for rendering the re. │straints on the local trade effective, there should be no interference with the whole. sale trade or with the import or export of arms and ammunition. It is a perfectly legitimate branch of trade. It is entirely untrammelled in England. It is not forbidden by Inter- national Law. All foreign powers have the right and the power to protect themselves by making the import of arms and ammunition in- so their respective countries contraband. No country interferes with the trade of its own subjects in contraband, and there is no reason why the Government of this colony should pass laws to protect foreign countries.
4. The importers and wholesale dealers in arms are perfectly willing-(1) to take out a licence to import and deal in arms and ammu- nition; (2) to pay a reasonabla licence fee, suf. Sir, I have now the pleasure of forwarding | cient to cover all the expenses Government may a copy of the suggestions offered by the firms be put to in regulating the local trade; (3) to interested in the Arms trade on the Bill for the | register their names, places of business and amendment of the Arms and Ammunition Or- ́ godowns, (4) to report to the harbour master or
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.