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sea 4 cadre CLOSING OP* WELLS.
- The Medical Officer of Health recommended the Board to order the closing of the well at, 46, Queen's Road Central as being tsint d with impurities.
The recommendation was adopted, and this clou d the public business of the Board.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
stating that His Excellency had been pleased to appoint Mr. Shewan to the seat rendered vacut for the present by the abse, ce on leave of Mr. T, H. Whitehead.
TYPHOON WARNINGS.
answer
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The rep'y of the Director of the. S cawi Observatory, Shanghai, jo
to the Chamber's letter of the 22nd April last, confirmed the attitude of the Kowloon Observatory and a letter was thereupon set to the Colonial Secretary strongly deprecating the want of co-operation displayed by Dr. At the monthly meeting of the Committee of D. berck with other observa ories in the Far the Hongkong General Chamber of CommerceEast. It was also pointed out that the prompt held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on Fri-issue of storm waruings and the need for the day, 13th June, at 3 p.m. Present-Hon C. S. establishment of a complete code of flag-signals Sharp (Vice-Chairman), Họn, C. W. Dickson,by day and lantern-signals by night were Messrs A. Haupt, E. A. Hewett, W. Poate, matters of great importance to the shipping N. A. Siebe, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tom ins, community. R. C. Wilcox, Hon. R. Shewan (ex officio) and A. B. Lowe (Secretary).
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.
Mr. POATE-I have much pleasure in pro posing the Hon. C. S. Sharp as Chairman of this Committee. Mr. Sharp has been the Vice- Chairman for some time past, he has a very intimate knowledge of the Chamber, and takes a very keen interest in its proceedings. I am sure he will fulfil the duties of the position to our entire satisfaction.
Mr WILCOX-1 have much plea are in seconding the election of Mr. Sharp as Chair- man. He has all the qualifications needed for the post, and has amply proved his fitness for it by his conduct of the business of the Chamber during the period that has elapsed since the departure of our late Chairman. As Vico. Chairman Mr. Sharp proved of the greatest use on various occasions and his knowledge and assistance in the p`eparation of the Memorandum on the Tariff, presented to the British Special Commissioner last year, were simply invaluable. In fact, it is not too much to say that a very large share of the work was done by him. I am sure we could not make a better choice. I have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Poate's proposal.
The Committee being noanimous in their support,
Hop. C. S, SHARP. 1ose to thank them for doing him so great an honour and said that he was aware of his many shorte mings, but would do his best, and he hoped that he woull always be able to look to the Committee for their con- fidence and support in carrying out the duties of the position.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN,
The CHAIRMAN-The Vice-Chair now bзing vacant, it gives me very great pleasure to pro- pose Mr. Poate as your Vice-Chairman.
Mr. HEWETT seconded Carried unanimously.
Mr. POATE-Thank you, ge..tlomen.
NEW MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE. The CHAIRM ›N said it gave him on behalf of his colleagues much pleasure in welcoming the new members of Committee, Hon. C. W. Dickson, and Mr. J. R. M. Smith, and also their new representative on the Legislative Council.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the last Monthly Meeting of the 7th May and of the special me ting held on 27th May were read and confirmed.
ELECTION OF COMMITTĶES.
It was unanimously agreed that the Vice- Chairman and Hon. C. W. Dickson be appointed to the Corresponding Committee and Mr. J. R. M. Smith to the Arbitration Committee..
NEW MEMBER.
The SECRETARY reported that since the last Meeting Messrs. Arratoon V. Apcar & Co had been elected to membership, subject to the usual confirmation at the next annul meeting THE CHAMBER'S REPRESENTAT. VE ON THE COUNCIL.
In consequence of the receipt of å letter from H.E, the Officer Administering the Govern- ment informing the Chamber that there was a vacancy on the Council and inviting the Chamber to nominate a candidate to fill the same Special General Meeting of the Members was summoned for 5th June, at which Mr. B. Shewan was elected, def :ating Mr. R. C. Wilcox by 58 votes to 96,
Read letter, from Colonial Secretary, dated 7th June, „acknowledging receipt of the Chamber's letter of 5th June informing the Acting Governor of the selection made, and
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Read reply from th Colonial Secretary dated the 21st alt., to the effect that the matter was receiving the attention of the Government.
The CHAIRMAN expressed the hope that as was coming on the the typhoon season Governinent would take immediate steps in the matter.
It was decided to approach the Colonial Secretary again if no move was made in the course of 10 days.
COLLISIONS BETWEEN JUNKS AND STEAMERS.
The Acting Colonial Secretary replied to the Chamber's letter of 20th April on the 7th ult. that His Excellency the Officer Ad- mili tering the Government concurred in the recommendation that legislative action should be taken in hand, and that steps were bring taken to amend the Bill bearing on the subject now before the Legislative Council in accor. dance with the recommendations of the Chamber. The CHAIRMAN said this was satisfactory and mentioned that the case propounded was a good one and had been stated very clearly.
FRENCH CUSTOMS TARIFF BILL.
Read letter from Clonial Secretary dated the 27th ult, enclosing a copy of the letter of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of 15th April to the effect that a Presidential decree had been issued under the Law of 22nd February last, applying provisionally for 6 months only from 20th February, the minimum tariff to Hong- kong. A futher despatch was also received stating that the minimum iff had been extended sine die to the Strait Settlements and Fed rated Malay States, so long as French goods enjoy equal advantages in those tates and are treated under the "most favoured nation
clause."
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The CHAIRMAN pointed out that Hongkong only got 6 months extension of the minimum tariff and that it might be necessary to move in the matter at the end of that period.
1H8 EPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE .LICENSING OF CHINESE PILOTS.
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[June 30, 1902.
It was pointed out that there were; biggër men bebind the coolie brokers, stevedorés and native crow, who were implicated and should be punished, and that in the Kaifong case the owners were compelled to enter into a bond of $70,000 gold to secure the conveyance of the stowaways back to Hongkong, and that if the officers had not made the discovery and reported same to the U.S. Custom authorities & very heavy fine would have been inflicted. The Government, however, replied that their opinion was that the law as it at present stands was sufficient to meet ordinary cases, and that the Kaifong case was exceptional and apparently due to the lack of vigilance displayed by the executive officers of the steamer, but that under certain circumstances named it might be a matter for further consideration whether any alteration of the law was necessary.
A discussion followed on the Kaifong case, in which it was pointed out that the executive officers had nothing to do with the stowing of the steamer, and that they were not implicated, no suggestions of that nature being made bý the magistrate trying the case, and that the U.S. authorities at Iloilo had held a searching enquiry, going s far as to follow the matter up by sending detectives to Hongkong, with the result that they were satisfied the officers had done all that was necessary and were not themselves concerned in the frand.
It was decided 10 se. d copies of the corres pondence to the shipping firms concerned in the trade with the Philippices for their in- formation and views on the matter.
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CABLE RATES.
As resolved at the last monthly meeting, a letter was sent to the Eastern Extension Tele- graph (o., Ld., and in reply the manager in China wrote stating that the Chamber's observations accompanying their renewed application for reduced rates between the Far East and Europe had been submited to the directors for their consideration.
INDO-CHINA QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. The Colonial Secretary transmitted copy of letter received from the Consul for France communicating copy of telegram received by him on the 19th ultimo showing the sanitary measures declared against the arrivals from Hongkong by the Government of Indo-Chins.
The Colonial Secretary's letter was also r ad informing the Chamber that H.B.M. Consul at Saigon had wired on the 21st ultimo that 12 days' quarantine would be enforced on arrivals from Hongkong.
Enquiries having been made, the SECRETARY reported having written the Consul for France inferring that pressed raw cotton and yarn in bales from Bombay, via Hongkong, were not restricted goods within the meaning of the Indo-China regulations, and read a reply in which the Consul for France stated that he understood these goods, so packed, could still be imported, as before, in terms of an
of 19th April.last.
Messrs. E A. Hewett, A Haupt, and W. Poate, the Sub-Committee formed for this object on the 21st ultimo, sent in their report"arrêté on the 11th instant together with a list of proposed regulations for the consideration of the General Committee.
'The report was read and adopted, and on the proposition of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. TOMKINS, it was resolved to forward a copy to the Colonial Secretary.
The CHAIRMAN said the thanks of the Com- mittes were due to Messrs. E. A. Hewett, A. Haupt, and W. Poate, the Sub-Committee, for drawing up such an excellent report, and he hoped the Government would follow out the sugges i ns made therein. -
CANTON RIVER OBSTRUCT.ONS
H. B. M. Minister at Peking acknowledged with thanks the receipt of the Chamber's letter of 18th April last enclosing copy of Captain Lloyd's Memorandum.
PENALTIES ON CHINI SĄ STOWAWAYS ON STEAMERS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
A letter was received from Messrs. Butter- field & Swire on 8th ult. dealing with the Kaifong case; and the Government was written to pointing out the inadequate penalties under the present ordinances to deter attempts of this nature, owing to the string noy of the low relating to their prohibition from immigrating into the Philippine Islands, and suggesting the amendment of the ordinance to give the magistrate power to inflict a penalty of one or two years' imprisonment with hard labour in addition to the fine.
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PROPOSED INCREASE OF TAXES ON IMPORTS AT SWATOW,
Correspondence was read from
Messrs. Bradley & Co. and Douglas, Lapraik & Co. bringing to the knowledge of the Chamber a proposed increase of taxation at Swa'ow, and after some.
discussion it was decided not to move in the matter until more definite informa- tion was to hand.
SUGAR CONFERENCE AT BRUSSELS. The Parliamentary paper relating to the recent sn ar conference at Brussels, including a copy of the convention of March 5th, 1902, which had been transmitted by the Colonial Secretary for the information of the Committee, was laid on the table.
ATTà MPT TO IMPOŠÈ NEW TAXES ON YARNS IMPORTED BY BRITISH STEAMERS TO CANTON.
Letters were read from. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire of 3rd and 9th instant, the latter enclos ing copy of the proclamation by the lekin office at Canton, from which it appears that s Battery Tax of 3 per cent, and lekia 2 per cent, are being. enforced, in addition to the usual 5 per cent. I.M. Customs duty on yarna, making in all 10. per cent.
A case was cited in which the German Consul. had obtained release of goods belonging to German merchant, seized for refusal to pay these taxes.
It was decided to enquire from H.B.M. Consul-General at Canton the limit of the lekin
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