58
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held in the Chamber Room ön the 14th January, 1902, at 3.30 pm.-Present : Sir Thomas Jackson (Chairman), Mr. C. S. Sharp (Vice-Chairman), Mr. A. Haupt, Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Messrs. R. L. Riobardson, N. A. Biebs, H. E. Tomkins, Hon, T. H. Whitehead (ex-officio), and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).——
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the last Monthly Meeting (held on the 5th December, 1901) were confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.
The following, having be n duly proposed and seconded, were elected to membership of the Chamber: The China Export, Import and Bank Co, Mr. Ellis Kadoorie, Mr. Fung Wa Chün, Mr. M. 8. Sassoon, and Mr. C. L. Go. bam.
PROPOSED ASHES MONOPOLY.
A notice having been published in the Government Gazette of the 7th December contain- ing Regulations for the collection of ashes by a monopolist under an Order in Council, a letter was, on the 10th idem, addressed by the Cham ber to the Colonial Secretary, directing alten. tion to a letter (of which a copy was enclosed) from the Chamber to the Government dated 19th May, 1900; in reply to a request for an opinion as to the desirability of constituting such a monopoly, and adding that as no acknow- ledgement of its receipt had been given, it was concluded by the Committee that the project .had been abandoned.
On the 11th December a letter was addressed to the Chamber by the shipping firms calling attention to the proposed monopoly, endorsing the terms of the Chamber's letter of the 19th May, 1900, and requesting the Committee to approach the Government again on the subject. A reply to the Chamber's letter of the 1th
- was received from the Government on the 17th
December, to the effect that the communication was receiving attention,
After some conversation,
The CHAIRMAN said he thought that before further action was taken it would be well to await the reply of the Government on the whole question. He himself was entirely opposed to the principle of granting monopolies.
It was agreed to do nothing until a further communication had been received from the Government.
PREFERENTIAL DUTIES.
The SECRETARY reported that, in accordance with the decision taken at last meeting, letters were on the 11th December despatched to the British Minister at Peking and to Sir James Mackay at Shanghai enclosing copy of Mr. Arnold's letter of the 4th December announcing the continued existence of the Native Customs at Canton under the Hoppo, and the fresh diversion of cargo from steamers in consequence of his action in accepting lower duties on junk- borne cargo. A letter was also, on the 12th December, addressed to the Colonial Secretary enclosing copy of that sent to the British Minister for the information of H.E. the Governor.
Read letter from the Colonial Secretary, dated the 16th December, acknowleding receipt of the latter.
Also read reply from Sir James Mackay, dated 23rd December, in which he said he had communicated with the British Minister, and thought the matter was one that could be dealt with by Sir E. Satow, who, moreover, concurred in that opinion.
The CHAIRMAN said that Sir Ernest Satow had taken the matter up vigorously. He had made demands on the Peking Government that the Native Customs at Canton should be removed from the hands of the Hoppo and placed under control of the Imperial Maritime Customs, as had been dolo in other ports. He hoped that these representations would have a speedy effect, and he thought that the Minister was entitled to credit for his prompt action.
The Committee concurred.
THE CHINESE TARIFF.
Read letter from Sir James Mackay, dated 26th. December, enclosing copy of draft of a Now Chinese Import Tariff which he had received from the Foreign Office, and asking to
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[January 27,
1902.
be favoured with any remarks and suggestions the Chamber had to offer in connection there| DEATH OF THE POSTMASTER- with on the earliest possible date.
After some discussion,
on
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.
GENERAL.
15th 01
Un
It was decided to reply to the effect that
We regret to announce the death of the the Shanghai merchants were more competent to deal with the details of the Tariff than Postmaster-General, Commandor W. C. H. this Chamber, because they were in touch Hastings, R.N., which took place on the 22nd with the Customs, while such was not inst. in the Government Civil Hospital. The this port. The Committee deceased gentleman had been iu indifferent the case in
more favour on a scale health for a considerable time, and the end was would look with
one drawn in not unexpected. He came to the Colony from drafted in Shanghai than London. This Chamber had been in close British Honduras, where he had previously communication with Shanghai on the subject fille a Government appointment, in 1890, and ever since negotiations on the tariff were com- took up the position of Assistant Harbour menced, and were in complete accord with the Master. In 1895 he acted as Captain Super- intendent of Police during the absence on leave Chamber and the China Association there,
Also read letter from Sir James Mackay,dited of the Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G. He was February, the 7th January, asking for a failer information appointed Postmaster on certain subjects dealt with in th› Chamber's | 1899. In March, 1930, he left the Colony leave and only returned in the Tariff and Trade for home on Memorandum
September of last year. Ever since his Questions.
THE SECRETARY read draft of proposed return Captain Hastings hal shown signs of failing. his death being due to cancer. reply, which was considered and adopted.
He left the office on 19th October. the 2th inst. Mr. E. Cornewal Lewis, the Read letter from the Government, dated 17th Assistant Postmaster, saw him, and at that time be was quite conscious and fully December, acknowledging receipt of Chamber's realised he was dying. All through his painful letter of the 19th November fowarding a
illness Captain Hastings bore his sufferings petition from the shipping firms and agencies addressel to the Secretary of State for the with a touching patience and resignation. He Colonies, and stating that the subject matter leaves a widow and young family to mourn his of that petition had been receiving careful loss, and to them in their bereavement the consideration and the document would be for-widespread sympathy of the Colony is extended The deceased was naturally of a retiring warded to the Colonial Office in due course.
The CHAIRMAN said that they must now nature, and his lack of robust health await the decision of the Secretary of State while in Hongkong prevented him still further from taking part in a prominent degree in the on the points raised.
public and even the social life of the Colony; but he was held in universal respect and esteem by all with whom he came in contact. Especially was this the case with the public servants in the Governmental Depart- ments with which he was at one time or another connected. Particularly, he took a great interest in the Police; as an evidence of this it may be mentioned that he requested on his death-bed that his coffin should be carried from the hearse to the grave by members of the Force. When his son died three years ago a · similar request was made in his case, and each of the six police pall-bearers received a char- acteristically kind letter from the bereaved father upon that occasion. Captain Histings's memory will be cherished by the Policy of Hongkong. He was an enthusiastic Mason. Evincing always in a quiet way a great interest in sport, he was President of the Victoria Recrea tion Club, and shortly after his recent return from home he performed the ceremony of presenting the prizes won Swimming Gala, and on that occasion was made the recipient of a handsome present of silver plate subscribed for by the members and formally handed over by the Hon. H. E. Pollock, who was then Vice-President. account of the death of Captain Hastings, the Post Office was closed on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The funeral took place later in the Jhe cortege afternoon to Happy Valley. passed
PROPOSED EXHIBITION AT 8. LOUIS, 1.8.A.
Read letter from Mr. Rublee, United States Consul-General, dated 3rd January, stating that it was proposed to hold a World's Fair at S. Louis, Missouri, in the summer of 1903, and it was bored by the projectors and by the U. S. Government that Hongkong would par. ticipate on a large scale, and asking if there was a disposition in the Colony to take part in the Exposition.
Also read letter on the same subject from the Colonial Secretary, dated the 13th January, applying for the views of the Chamber before replying to the Consul-General, who had ad-
dressed the Government on the matter.
Aftersome consideration and discussion, It was resolved to reply to the effect that as the manufactures of Hongkong were so in considerable and its productions so limited it would not be practicable for the Colony as such to participate in the Exhibition.
Private indivi. duals and firms would, however, be encouraged to aid in the movement and the Chamber would suggest to the Go ernment that the Registrar. General should approach Chinese workers in gold, silver, and blackwood, &c.. pointing out to thera the advantages of being represented at S. Louis Exhibition.
THE BURMA-SHAV-CHINA RAILWAY. Read circular letter from the Liverpool Incorporated Chamber of Commerce, dated 4th November, transm tting copy of a memoril addressed to the Secretary of State for India in Council upon the subject of the above proposed railway and its extension into the province of Szechuan, and asking this Chamber to support the memorial by making similar representations to His Majesty's Government.
The Committee were not favourable to the scheme, which they regarded as impracticable and costly, and it was decided to reply to the effect that the Chamber is not prepared to support the memorial, aud desired to direct attention to the speeches made by Lord Curzon on the subject during his recent tour through
at the annual
On
As the hearse, which was
the Monument at five o'clock, and at this place several hundred people, including Government officials, Naval and Military officers, Freemasons, and citizens had congregate:l. covered with wreaths, went slowly past, hats were doffed and salutes given to all that remained of him in whose
memory the great concourse had assembled. Behind the hearse walked H.E. Major-General Gascoigne, His Honour A. G. Wise, Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Hon. W. Meigh Goodman, K.C., Mr. F. J. Badeley, Dr. Atkinson, Dr. Bell, Hon. C. P. Chater, Hon. W. Chatham, and many other prominent public officials and leading members of the community. The In connection with an intimati n given in the coffin, after being draped with the Union papers to the effect that the Telegraph Cop-Jack, was borne from the hearse to the vention, which was to have been held in Febru- | grave by Police Inspectors McNab, Gauld, Ford ary had been postponed for a year, the Com- and Warnock, preceded by Bishop Hoare mittee decide to address a letter to the reading the burial service. The sad ceremony Superintendent of the the Joint Telegraph Companies and ask him if he could give any information as to the date when it was probable the promised reduction in the rates to Europe
Burma.
TELEGRAPH RATES TO EUROPE.
und India would come into force.
This was all the business of general interest before the meeting.
at the graveside concluded, the coffin was lowered into its resting-place by the same police inspectors whose privilege it had been to convey thither the body, and the last duty of all, the filling-in of the grave, was performed by Police Sergeants MacSwayed, Gerrard, Gor- don, Brazil and Cameron.
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