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made such arrangements as will ensure a better service of bad-weather warnings at this port, as the typhoon season had commenced and the early notice and circulation of these storm warnings will be of the greatest service to the shipping community.
The CHAIRMAN-We shall no doubt receive a reply from the Goverment in the course of a few days.
PROPOSED LICENSING OF PILOTS.
Read latier, dated 18th June, written in accordance with resolution passed at the last meeting, to Colonial Secretary, enclosing the report of the sub-committee for the information of His Excellency the Cfficer Administering the Government.
The CHAIRMAN—This matter is now out of our hands, end we shall no doubt hear from the Government when they have considered the suggestions made.
CHINESE STOW WAYS TO PHILIPPINES.
Letters were read from Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Jardine, Matheson & Co., and Shewan, Tomes & Co., in answer to the Chamber's letter of 20th ult., asking for their views on this ques- tion. All three replies were agreed that the present penalty was insufficient to deter stowaways from making the attempt, and that when the latter had the assistance of the native crew it was impossible in many cases, in spite of strennons efforts on the part of the executive cfficers of the steamer, to prevent them getting through without detection.
The letters from the two last-mentioned ârnis brought cut the fact that the Chinese stowaways afterwards found ashore are frequently the means of a steamer being fined merely on the evidence of the stowaway himself.
Messrs. Butterfield & Swire's letter gave extracts from the log showing the precautions taken on board the s.8. Koing by the foreign executive officers and the methods adopted by the native crew and stevedores to seclude the stonaways..
A considerable discussion followed, and it was decided to represent this matter again to the Government with a view to the penalties now being imposed on stowaways and their abettors being increased.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
on the Chinese and are calculated to affect the passenger trade, and suggesting that their clients should petition the Government through one of the Chinese members of the Legislative Council and that the Chamber would support the petition so far as possible.
It was also decided to publish the correspond. |
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face. CHINESE EMPLOYED WITH FOREIGN FIRMS.
Suggested alterations of the law relating to the above were discussed at the last meeting and deferred rending further particulars. Since then a case in point had teen heard at the Police Court on 20th June last in which 12 Chinese Garrison hospital attendants were poseented by Lient. McClay, R.A.M.C. The defendants went on strike as a protest on account of too muchee pidgin." His Worship decided that the defendants not being domestic servants, the existing Ordinance was not applicable. They were therefore discharged.
The above mentioned case Lears out the Sec- retary of the Hongkong & Kowloon W. & G. Co., Ld., that the Chinese clerk or artiz n leaves his employment without notice and that the law does not provide any preventative penalty.
A lengthy discussion followed and it was agreed to bring the matter before the Goveri ment and ask them whether the law relating to domestic servants could not be made to apply to all Chinese employees engaged by the month or for a longer pericd, and enclosing at the same time a copy of the letter to the Chamber from the secretary of the Hongkong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co., Ld., of 5th ult., which dealt very fully with this question.
HONGKONG EXPORTS TO U.S.A. AND CANADA.
Asdecided at the last meeting, a circular letter was written to the shipping lines concerned asking them to furnish particulars of cargos carried to these countries, to which all agreed. The SECRETARY stated that the figures would appear in future in the fortnightly market report issued by the Chamber.
NEW CHINESE EMIGRATION ORDINANCE. Read letter from Messrs. Mounɛey & Brutton of 17th ult., pointing out on behalf of the owners of emigration boarding houses in this Colony how the new Ordinance No. 37 of 1901 is likely to affect the bearding-house keepers rd by restricting emigration to have an adverse effect on the trade of the port.
The SECRETALY replied on 30th ult. that the Committee recognised the fact that certain provisions of the Ordinance will press Larsbly
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The petition of the Chinese boarding- house keepers was read and it was resolved
That the Committee support the petitioners in their views contained in clauses 4, 5, and 7 of the petition in relation to the detention of the e. igrant in the boarding-house. and the extra expense entailed on him. for 48 hours, and suggest that this time be reduced to 24 hours."
Hon. C. W. DICKSON proposed and Mr. HEWETT SECouded—“That the Chanter shon!d it form the Government they do not support the petitioners' request for a reduction of the ecurity qared under the Ordinane, nor d'id they support the other clauses relating to securities or the prop. sed amendment of Section 6 by striking out the word · knowingly."
Carried unanimously.
IMPERIAL CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, Read letter from the Secretary of the Lunden Chamber of Commerce of 28th May last on the alore subject, in which are cited Ile resolutions passed at the Fourth Congress of (Lumbers of Commerce in favour of all-British cables and State-owned ships ultimately provided for in all future airangements The letter contained the
summarised recommendatious and conclusions of the Inter. Departmental Committee on Cable Communications. The Chamber's opinion was asked on the conclusious of the Committee and whether such eqinion should te cxpressed in the form of a further jesolution to be brought forward at the next Congress.
It was decided to adjourn the discrasion on this question to the next mouthly meeting, and in the meantime to circulate the letter again for consideration and comment.
CANTON RIVER OBSTRUCTIO: 8,
[July 28, 1904
cargo. from here had first undergone a procest of disinfection for the destruction of rats.
The ordinary at regulations now in fores would be sufficient for all ships in transit which had to come and moor at the quays.-Yours sincerely,
W. J. SIMPEON.
The SECRETARY was instructed to circulate amongst the Committee the correspondence which passed between the Chamber and the Government on the subject with a view to the matter being gone into again. Meeting then terminated.
CHINESE STOWAWAYS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
We are requested to publish the following corespondence on the above subject :-
Hongkorg General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 18th July, 1902, Sir, I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 28th May last (No. 1.178) replying to the Chamber's letter of the 13th idem suggesting an amendment of the Ordinance relating to stowaways. In view of the remarks contained in the third paragraph of your letter, from which it is evident the Government con- sidered that the abuse complained of was largely due to the neglect of the ships' (fficers. and that no penalty had been imposed upon them, the correspondence was referred to the agents of the three principal steamship lines ruuning between this port and the Philippines for consideration and report. I have now the honour to enclose, for the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government. copies of the replies by Messrs. 'Butterfield & Swire, Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co.. and Messrs. Jardine, Mutheson & Co.
The first u med letter, dated 24th June, recites at considerable length the steps taken to prevent stowaways being secreted on board, from which The CHAIRMAN drew the attention of the the Committee think the Government wil be Committee to su extract from the Hongking satisfied that there was no negligence on the Weekly Press of the 16th ultimo which he reail part of the officers of the Kaifong. Mes-rs. Shewan, Tomes & Co. mention in their letter, as follows:--" It is officially-fated our London correspondent telegraphis) that a clause has that ou the last occasion when stowaways were been agreed upon in the Special Commis- discovered on the s.s. Perla the chief officer was dismissed, which may certainly be taken sicuers treaty wherely China" undertakes (o. remove within two years the artificial obstruc-as proof that negligence on the part of the.
fficers is not cond red. ficus to the navigation of the Canton River.” He said this was a satisfactory statement, if It seems clear to the Committee that there corrcet, aud, to some extrut no doubt, the result are persons connected with this business es of the Chamber's representations to Sir Jamesviders: ud abettors who are both able and willing Mackay.
THE RATS ORDINANCE.
The CHAIRMAN said he had noticed that in the printed answers by the Government, to the recommendations of Professor Simpson were the following:-6 and 7. Methods of destruction suggested : Rat poison and rat traps have been used freely, carlo'ic acid is poured into rat rucs. The question of the treatment of ships was referred to the Chamber of Com- merce, who were not in favour of taking up active steps in this direction. 13. Systematic destruction of rats on steamers and junks from plague infected ports on the Chinese coast and which go al ngs de wharves or into dock to be undertaken: Not yet arranged (see Nos. 6 and 7). Question referred to Chamber of Commerce, who are opposed to the proposal. Sanitary Board has not therefore pressed the matter."
The CHAIRMAN aid le bad written to Professor Simpson to the effect that this appeared to amount to a reflection on this Chamber and hardly seemed to represent pro- perly the atti ude of the Chamber of Commerce on the subject. and read Professor Simpson's reply dated 20th ult., which was as follows:-
30th June, 1902. - Dear Mr. SHARP,-I have looked over the notes you mention and I do not think there is anything which is intended as a reflection on the Chamber of Commerce. The destruction of rats on ships from plague ports would refer mostly to those ships that discharged all their cargo here and to the lighters of the ship from infected ports that only partially discharged their cargo. I take it that the Rubatino from Bombay and occasionally a P. & O. would come under this regulation. so would the Indo-China and Apcar lines from Calcutta, also Manila and local coasters if discharging their cargo along side the quay. It would I think be a good thing for the slipping of this port if it could be stated that those ships which took all their
to pay occasional fires out of the large profils accrning from it A mere fine, therefore, is not likely to prove a sufficient deterrent, and the Committee trust that His Excellency will, after perusing the evidence of the steamship agents, and especially on finding from same the case of an example having been made of a ship's
fficer whose neglect seemed to have con- triluted to stowaways being concealed on board fas oferred to in paragraph 3 of your letter of 28th May last), reconsider his decision and give instructions for the amendment of the Ordinance in the direction for making the penalty one of imprisonment with hard labour in addition to, or instead of, the infliction of a- simple fine.-I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. F. H MAY, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
A. R. LOWE,
Secretary.
Hongkong, 24th June, 1902. Sir,-We are in receipt of your letter of 20th inst., enclosing copies of various letters for our perusal, in conuection with the question of penalties cu Chinese stowaways from Hongkong to the Philippines, and asking for an expression of our views thereon. Being the principals in the recent case of the Kaifong, and the writes of the first communication to you on the sub- ject, we refrain from entering into a discussion of the matter, further than to state our opinion on the points raised in the Hongkong Govern- ment's letter to you of the 20th ultimo.
The Government is of opinion that the foreign executive officers of the Kaifong neglected their duty, otherwise such a number as 134 stowaways could not have been secreted on board without their knowledge. The Government, therefore, decline to alter the law as at present established for the punishment of stowaways and those who assist them, until it is proved to
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