66
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The CHAIRMAN thought this called for no reply to the Chamber's communication of the comment.
5th idem in reference to the prohibition by the Government of the Straits Settlements against coolie immigration from Hongkong.
THE - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, Į
A letter having been addressed to the Secre- lary by the Hon. T. H. Whitehead enclosing copy of a letter addressed by him to H.E. the Governor, under date 8th July, suggesting that as Mr. R. D. Ormsby, Director of Public Works, has retired, or is about to retire, on pension, His Excellency should telegraph to the Secretary of State "urging the imperative necessity of securing a really competent man for the post, and asking the Chamber for their concurrence and support in making this recom- mendation.
|
I am now directed to ask you to convey to His Excellency the Governor the thanks of the Committee for taking up the question with such decision and promptitude, and to express the hope that the ultimate result of his action will be the withdrawal of the prohibition against immigration.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary.
The matter was brought up for consideration. Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY. The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the Secretary if he had received a further letter enclosing copy of H.E. the Governor's reply and of two resolutions which he had sent to the Chamber at 3 p.m. that day, which resolutions he would like to submit at a subsequent meet- ing of Committee when Mr. Ormsby's retire- ment had become officially known.
THE SANITATION ÓF THE COLONY.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 13th June, 1901.
The SECRETARY-No, I left the Chamber at fen minutes to 4 o'clock and your letter had not arrived then. The messenger must have lagged on the way.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Well, in that letter I enclosed copy of the Governor's reply. and as it stated that he was not aware Mr. Ormsby had retired, I ask leave to postpone consider- ation of this question until next monthly meeting or until Mr. Ormsby's resignation is officially known.
The CHAIRMAN-I don't see how we can do that, Mr. Whitehead. The Committee have made up their minds on the subject and we wish to close it now.
Mr. WHITEHEAD urged the great importance of the appointment to the colony generally, and in the interests of the trade and the shipping of the port the Colonial Office, through the Colonial Government and the London Chamber of Commerce, should be urged to select and appoint a thoroughly experienced officer of con- siderable professional standing. He was sure he could convince the Committee that the question was well within the objects and reasons of the Chamber's existence-see No. 2 of the Rules and Regulations. It was one that would be taken up readily by the London Chamber of Com- merce, the trade and shipping having suffered serious loss annually for the last seven years through the insanitary condition of Hongkong. The Director of Public Works was responsible for the drainage and sanitation of the city.
The CHAIRMAN then suggested that the minutes of the Committee on the question
should be read.
This was done, and after
ME. WHITEHEAD had again urged the matter was a fitting one for the Chamber to take up, The question was put to the vote, when the Committee unanimously decided that the ques- tion was not one on which the Chamber could express an opinion, it being outside their pro- vince, but in the event of the Government applying to them they would then express an opinion to the best of their ability.
DIFFICULTY AND COST OF PROCURING BALLAST.
The difficulty now experienced by agents of ships in procuring sand or stone ballast was brought before the Committee and considered. They were informed that not only has the cost of obtaining this ballast increased by more than 100 per cent, but a practical royalty of 6 conts per ton has been imposed by the Government. In addition, there seems to be a delay in getting a permit, and this is aggravated by junks being compelled to proceed to places where the supply is limited and scattered.
It was decided to address the Government on this question, as steamers have sometimes, after waiting some time, been compelled to leave port without the ballast.
This concluded the business.
SIR,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor joins with the Chamber of Commerce in the regret that here, as in India, the anxious efforts of the Government have failed to control Bubonio Plague, or to materially check its ravages.
contribute to the
[July 20, 1901.
MANDATE Government
public utterances or officials and of an expert employed by the Colonial Office to inquire into the sanitation of the colony. Nor was there anything, in the opinion of the Committee, to justify the as- tumption on the part of His Excellency the Governor that the members of the Chamber believed in the truth of any exaggerated statements." On this, however, I will not dwell, for, as stated above, I am instructed to avoid even the appearance of wishing to prolong a quite useless controversy,
G
In addressing the Government on this subject of sanitation in the first instance, the Chamber had not then, nor has it now, any other object in view than to expedite reform in the sanitary con- dition of the colony, and they therefore take this opportunity of expressing gratification at the information contained in the last paragraph of your letter, vis, that important measures having this for their object were being con- templated by the Colonial Authorities. The Committee would further add that in bringing forward any such measures, the Government may rest assured of the loyal support and on-operation of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
SIB,
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
As to the various matters on which the Com- mittee of the Chamber of Commerce have been good enough to give their views, they have long been subjects of most anxious consideration by Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY, those whose professional knowledge and ex- perience best fitted them to advise upon them, and some have been dealt with ly the Legislative Council. His Excellency would suggest that as the Chamber of Commerce is directly represented in the Council, it should request its Te- presentative to bring its views before that body, where the grounds for assumptions which appear to have been somewhat hastily adopted may be clearly stated and fully an swered. His Excellency instructs me to add that nothing/could more commercial losses pointed out in the 4th para- graph of the letter than reckless statements, some untrue, and others greatly exaggeratad, that have appeared from time to time in the public Press; and the apparent acceptance of these statements by the Members of the Com- mittee of the Chamber of Commerce without investigation or adequate knowledge, is not calculated to allay fears that, if continued, may permanently affect the prosperity of this colony, dependent as it is upon the business incidental to a great shipping port of call. The Governor observes with satisfaction that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce are prepared to accept cheerfully the increased taxation that will probably be necessary to meet the heavy expenses of contemplated measures for the general improvement of
Colonial Becretary's Office,
Hongkong, 6th July, 1901.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th, ultimo, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor accepts unreservedly the statement contained in the second paragraph of your letter under reply.
sanitation.
His Excellency has further directed that a since the date of Mr. Chadwick's report of 1882 full report on the Sanitary measures taken shall be prepared. This report, it is expected, will show that many hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended in carrying out the recommendations of Mr. Chadwick's report. When prepared, the information will be made public.
In the first letter of the Chamber of Com- merce it is assumed that the drainage system adopted on Mr. Chadwick's recommendation is faulty and that the late epidemic of plague now happily disappearing was due in some measure to defective drainage and general insanitary conditions existing in the city. This is a very important question, on which His Excellency does not feel himself competent to form an opinion based upon any valid grounds that have · come under the notice of this Government. If it be so, however large an expenditure may be necessary, it must be faced, and all other projects must yield to imperative Sanitary im- Ag. Colonial Secretary. Excellency has requested the Secretary of provements as of primary importance. His State for the Colonies to obtain the services of an expert in drainage and mnitation to visit and report upon the sanitary condition of Hongkong, and until such report has been made His Excellency suggests that it may be well to suspend judgment in the matter.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH, (8d.)
The SECRETARY,
Chamber of Commerce. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 24th June, 1901.
SIR,
I beg leave to acknowledge receipt of your letter (No. 1,400) of the 13th inst. In doing so I am directed to express the Chamber's regret at finding from its tone that His Excellency took some exception to the attitude adopted by the Committee in their letter of the 7th inst.
I am instructed to ask you to convey to His Excellency the assurance of the Committee that their action was not dictated by any spirit of carping criticism, but arose out of sincere desire to strengthen the hands of the Govern- ment and assists in combating the present serious visitation of plague.
The Chamber do not wish me to enter into controversy, but they wish to put themselves
The following is the correspondence referred | right on one point. to at the meeting
PROHIBITION OF IMMIGRATION FROM HONGKONG.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 24th June, 1901.
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledgo receipt of your letter (No. 1,476) of the 20th inst., in
At the same time it should not be forgotten that even at the height of the epidemic the death-rate of Hongkong was less than that of other Eastern colonies, and eliminating deaths from plague, it is less than that of many cities of Great Britain and Ireland.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary. The SECRETARY,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
ipt of your letter mitting, for copy of a
MEDICAL INSPECTOR OF PASSINGNES. Hongkong General Chamber of Commere Hongkong, 18th July, 1901. SIR, It was stated in your letter that the Chamber had accepted without investigation certain I beg to statements made in the local Press and described | (No. 1,607) of
the information | by you as recklem.
In reply to this statement, I beg to point letter from the out that no reference to statements made in | Port.
This letter, which dealt with curtain state- the local Press appeared in my letter; the references there given were taken from the 'ments made by Mr. Ritchie, was submitted to
14th Officer of the
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