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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER | The symbols should be painted red, but the
OF COMMERCE.
At a meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on Tuesday, 16th December, 1904, at 3.30 p.m. Present: Mr. W. Poate (Vice-Chairman), Mesars. E. A. Hewett, C. Michelau, N. A. Siebs, H. E. Tomkins, B. C. Wilcox and A. R. Lowe (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last monthly meeting held on 18th ult. were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER OF COMMITTEE, Mr. C. Michelau took his seat on the Com- mittee, in accordance with the invitation exteud. ed to him at the last meeting.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN said--I welcome Mr. Michelau's presence on the Committee, and I am sure that we shall receive from him the same valuable advice and assistance in our delibera- tions as we were accustomed to receive from his predecessor, Mr. Haupt.
NEW MEMBERS.
The SECRETARY reported that Mr. H. M. H. Nemasse and Messrs. Rozario & Co. had bяeu duly elected to membership since the last meeting, subject to the usual confirmation at the next annual general meeting.
STORM-WARNINGS.
The report of Sub-Committee re warnings was then read :
storm-
Hongkong, 12th December, 1902. As requested by the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, we have considered the question of the form which the storm-warnings issued by the Hong. kong Observatory should take in order that they may be of more practical use to the sea-fariug and shore communities, and we have had the benefit of the suggestions and opinions expressed in the correspondence addressed to the Cham- ber by the shipping firms and the masters of steamers trading from this port. This corres- pondence shows a strong desire for better in- formation as to the position and direction of typhoon-storms, and also that the methods of imparting the same by the local Observatory are not equal to those of many other ports.
1. We are of opinion that, while signalling by flags gives much greater scope for making signals of all kinds, the initial cost and the expense of keeping the necessarily expert signalling staff is against this method, and we advise the signalling by done by symbols which are more economical, easier to work, and better understood by landsmen. These symbols should be in the form of a diamond, cone, and drum hoisted on a mast with yard across. The code usei should be the 37 special distance signals of the Commercial Code and in order to prevent confliction with that Code and to indicate the signals ace distinctly meteorological, the diamond-shape should be subststituted for the ball-shape, and a diamond-shape kept per- minently at the mast-head.
2. We also agree with suggestions mide by the ship-masters that additional signal stations should be placed on Green Island, Waglan, and Gap Rook, and arrangements made for similar storm-warnings to be shown from Cape Padarang.
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3. It would enable shipmasters who are on the point of clearing to obtain the latest weather | information if the Harbour Office could be put in direct telephonic communication with the Observatory.
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4. Endevours should be made to obtain observations from Haioan.
5. The Government might approach the Telegraph Companies with the object of obtain. ing their consent to receive and despatch observations at (say) 9 a.m. every day in con. nection with the observations up and down the coast.
6. The Government should see that the latest instruments are put at the disposal of the Obss :vatory.
7. When offered, weather forecasts should be r.osived from other Observatories and published as such. All such information would be wel- cɔmel by shipmasters and there would not be any necessity for the local Observatory to accept any responsibility in respect to the correctness of the forecast.
8. Attached is a copy of the Code suggested.
colour is immaterial unless it is found desir able to double the number of signals. The Coda with the meaning suggested shou'd be printed on cards and attention articularly drawn to Signal No. 31 before the hoisting of which it should not be necesary for the sampana and cargo-boats to stop work and seek shelter. If necessary additional siguals may be made by farther combinations of the three symbols employed or by similar siguals horizontally displayed from the yard-arm. Also if found desirable, the meanings attached to the signals given in the suggested Codo may be altered or transposed.
G. C. ANDERSON. H. W. BUCKLAND, J. Goo8MANN. G. M. YOUNG, The VICE-CHAIRMAN expressed his opinion that the Sub-Committee bat formulated a report containing many valuable suggestions, and he thought a copy of it should be forwarded to the Government for their consideration.
This was unanimously agreed to.
PROPOSED LICENSING OF PILOTS,
Read the replies of the Shipping F.rus and Agencies to the letter addre-sed to them on the 1st ultimo, asking whether they were of opinion that some proper control should be exercised over the pilots similar to what is done in other ports.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN said the replies showed that it was the general wish of the Shipping Firms and Agencies to have the men employed in th's responsible work under control, and that a system of licensing was necessary to carry this into effect. The letters also conveyed the opinion that compul-ory pilotage iu Hongkong Harbour was unnecessary and undesirable.
After some discussion it was decided to open up this matter with the Gorerument again.
PIRACY ON THE WEST RIVER.
(falünry 12, 1903.
INCREASE OF TAXAT ON ON OPIUM ATCANTION.
The following letter was read : --
Colonial Secretary's Office, 2ad D camber, 13. SIR. With reference to previous correspou decs. I have much pleasure in informing you that His Britannic Maje ty's Consul-General in Canton has been successful in securing the final abolition of the tax ou prepared Opium in the Two Kwang Provinces. I have the hon-ur to be, Sir, you obedient servant,
F. H. MAY, Col nial Secretary.
The SECRETARY,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. The VICE-CHAIRMAN said this again was a most satisfactory commun cation from the Government in reply to the Chamb's repre sentations on this subject, an that great credit was due to H.B. Majesty's representatives at Peking and Canten for bringing about the abolition of the new fax.
It was decided to put on record the Com. mitteo's appreciation of the energetic manner in which Sir Ernest Batow and Mr. Consui- General Scott had brought this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
THE CURRENCY QU STION. The following latter from the Singapore Chamber of Commerce was read: —–
Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, 28th November, 1912. DEAR SIR, it will be within your' recollec- tion that some five years ago in counection with a movement then made in this Colony for fixity of exchange, this Chamber addressed the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce with the object of ascertaining its views on that question, anl enquiring it any action in the same direction was coatemplated by the Colony of Hongkong.
2. The reply received at that time was, in effort, that. situated as Hongkong is on the borders of the greatest silver-using country in the world, it would be impracticable for that Colony to attempt any change of currency, and that the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce did not feel able, linked as the interests of Hong- koug were with silver, to move in the matter,
The SECRETARY reported that representa- tions were made to the Government, in a letter dated 21st ultimo, on the subject of the con tinued prevalence of piracy on the West River, in which the opinion was expressed that early and strong representations should be made to
3. Since then, however, much ha‹happened ; H. M. Minister at Paking and H. B. M. Consul- General at Canton with a view to adequate silver has fallen to 22d per ounce, its lowest pressure being brought by them on the Chinese recorded value; not only does further decliue seem not imp obable, but there are those who Authorities to institute and keep up a proper patrol of the waters of the Delta. The follow-hold the view that still further serions deprecia- ing rep'y was read :-
Colonial Secretary's Office, 26th November, 1902. SIR,-In reply to your letter of the 21st inst., conerning the continued prevalence of piracy on the West River, I am directel to in form you that His Excellency t e Governor had already made representatious to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking on this matter. with the result that every effort is being made by the Viceroy of the Two Kwang to bring the offenders to justice.
2. Arrang-ments are being made to patrol the delta of the Canton River with two Chinese gunboats under European command, and His Excellency hopes that a settlement of the claims of the injured persons will be effected in a short time-I have the honour to be, Sir, yo ir obedient servant,
The SECRETARY.
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. The VICE CHAIRMAN said that reply was satisfactory and he trusted that the Canton Government would continue to keep in force the arrangements made to patrol the delta efficiently.
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tion is before us; the heavy fall in the sterling value of the dollar has born beavily upon many interests in the Colony, and doubtless this, and the uncertainty as to the future, is being experienced in like degree in Hongkong.
I
are aware,
4. The Singapore Chamber has racently a cain · moved the Government in the mat.er with a view to inv.s'igating anl considering fixity, and as a result the Secretary of State for the
doubtless Colonie has, as yon appointal a Committes of which Sir David Barbour is Chair.oan to enquire into and report on the matter in the combined interests of the Straits Settl mants and the Federated Malay States.
5. In view of the largo trade which exists between the Straits Settlements and Malay Peninsula, and the Colony of Hongkong it is possible that the question may be regarded as again meriting o nsideration by your Chamber, and I have therefore been instructed to enquire if the views of the Honkong Chamber as expressed in 1-97 remain unaltered, and also to ask you to be so good" as to favour this Chamber with any information that may be of assistance to us on this diffiyult and importan question.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. WILCOX said it was satisfactory to notice that adequate compensation had been claimed | The SECR tarTM,
and he understood obtained) from the Chinese authorities in the case of th recent murder of a British subject. He thought much credit was due to Mr. Scott, the British Consul, for his vigorous action in this and other matters.
PROPOSED FAST SERVICE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC BY THE C P.R.
Read letter, dated 21st October last, from the Postmaster-General of Canada acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the resolution of the Chamber on the subject of the proposed fast Atlantic service by the C.P.R., forwarded to him on the 22nd September last, and stating that the matter was receiving careful attention
ALEX. GUNN,
Becratary.
Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong. In the discussion which full wed it was agresi by the majority that nothing bad arissa to alter the position taken up by the Chamber in 1897, bu, owing to several members of tho Committe being absent, it was considered desirable to call a s
special meeting of the Committee to allow the abgent members a chance to discuss the matter. It was decided to leva till then the qustion of the desirability of calling a special general meeting of the Chamber, and also in the event of a general meeting being called, whether the Committee should express their views on the subject.
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