T
F
May 2, 1904.]
wish of this Chamber as here represented that the committee should officially take up this question, I can only state that the committee for this year, whoever they may be, will, I am quite sure, deal with this very important matter (Applause.) I may add that I have reason to believe that the Hongkong Government is as fully alive to the importance of this question 18 We are and that the facts stated by Mr. Whealler just now in an extract I think from Messrs. Ilbert's circular are admitted by us all. As business men it is made clear to us that any port which is left out in the cold in the matter of railways must go to the wall, and Chefoo is a very good example of what would happen to Hongkong if we are not the first to be connected to China by railway. With regard to the currency question, as you know, the Chambers of Commerce of the three principal ports in this part of the world have addressed the Diplomatic Body on the subject, but beyond their polite sympathy nothing has been done. at present; but, as we all know, the reform of China's currency is provided for by Treaty and it a matter which will be dealt with very promptly by the committee of this Chamber, who will continue to urge the im. portance of this upon the Diplomatic Body until, we hope, at no distant time reform will be accomplished. (Applause).
The motion was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN moved the confirmation of the election to membership of the following:
Messrs. Goddard and Douglas, Barretto & Co.. Lamke and Rogge, E. F. Wilks Co.. Chun On Fire Insurance Co.. Ld., Shiu On S. 8. Co.. Ld., Osaka Shosen Kaisha, Java-China-Japan Lijn, China and Japan Telephone and Electric a., Ld. Deacon, Looker and Deacon, Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., Mr. G. C. Moxon, Mr. A. M. Essabhoy, and Messrs D. Macdonald & Co.
Mr. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Bon.
Mr. J. R. MICHAEL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
This was all the formal business.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
335
at all times to consider questions which might be brought to his notice by the Chamber.
written to the Daily Press protesting against the imputation levelled by that paper against Japan for the discriminating treatment accorded The Committee have reason to believe that Japanese manufactured sugars, a letter was sent | future relations with H.B.M.'s Foreign Office in Japan to Hongkong sugars as compared with this interview will strengthen the Chamber's to the Consul calling attention to certain in- Representative in China and lead to even more taken to point out that, although the discrimina-views from time to time laid before His accuracies in his letter, and the opportunity was ready and sympathetic acquiescence with the tion alluded to in his letter may have been aimed Excellency. chiefly against bounty-fed Continental sugar, it obviously applied equally to sugar from Hong- kong not bounty-fed and there was wanting any evidence of a desire on the part of Japan to are treated in this Colony. treat Hongkong products as Japanese products
LICENSING OF PILOTS.
It will be remembered that a long correspon- with the object of making it obligatory on the dence with the Government took place in 1902 part of the pilots plying for hire within the with, and prove their qualifications before. & waters of the Colony to register themselves
Government to act, and although, as was pointed Board having the requisite authority from the out, similar regulations were in force dealing with the coxswains and engineers of steam launches, the Government could not then see its way to extend the principle to pilots. forward in December last and instanced the The Committee again brought the matter flagrant incompetence of the pilot on board the of the 8.8. Tjipanas" when she steamed over the wreck Pakshan," which happened to be in- Captain was fined for negligent seamanship by differently buoyed with danger signals. The
"
the Harbour Master, who would neither re- |cognise the part played by the pilot nor allow
him to give evidence.
receiving attention, and recently a Bill has been The Government replied that the matter was introduced by the Government dealing with the question.
BROKERAGE ON STOCKS AND SHARES.
Mr. A. FORBES moved the re-election of the Association of Hongkong that brokerage should The committee proposed to the Stockbrokers" committee for the ensuing year. with the ex-be borne by the seller only. as the present system ception that Hon. C. W. Dickson (who goes in vogue of charging both buyer and seller with home shortly) be succeeded by Mr. W. J. Gres- brokerage precluded the brokers from acting the association was unable to see the force of impartially for both parties. Unfortunately the argument. contending that the danger of change inasmuch as a broker might consider his partiality would only be accentuated by the duty was due more to the seller from whom he would receive his commission than to the buyer from whom he would not receive any brokerage, We understand that at a meeting of the com-
whereas under the present system it is the im- mittee held afterwards, Mr. E. A. Hewett was
perative duty of a broker receiving his commis- re-elected chairman and Mr. D. R. Law vice-ability, that both buyer and seller are treated sion from both sides to see, to the best of his chairman.
The CHAIRMAN thanked the members for the honour they had done the committee in re- electing them.
The meeting then ended.
The following is the report:
During the past year, which was somewhat encroached upon by 1902 Report, fewer subjects have engaged the attention of the Chamber, but much satisfactory work has nevertheless been accomplished in certain directions.
SUGAR CONVENTION.
A copy of this Convention, which came into force on the 1st September. 1902, was published in the last Report. Since then much progress has been made by the Permanent Commission in putting through the necessary legislative machinery in order to comply with the terms of the Convention.
As the Imperial Government undertook, on behalf of the Colonies not possessing responsible Governments (of which Hongkong is one) to take the necessary measures to prevent bounty- fed sugar which has passed in transit through the territory of a contracting State from enjoy- ing the benefits of the Convention in the mar- ket to which it is being sent, local legislation became necessary, and a Sub-Committee, com- posed of the Chairman. Vice-Chairman, and Hon. C. W. Dickson, was therefore-appointed to watch the effects of the findings of the Per- manent Commission on the import and export sugar trade of Hongkong. At the Govern- ment's request various suggestions have been made during the year with the object of leading the proposed legislation in the direction best suited to the peculiar conditions of the trade in this Colony. The Colonial Secretary for the time being had been appointed as the Fiscal Authority" in Hongkong. JAPANESE MARKETS AND HONGKONG SUGAR. The Consul for Japan in Hongkong having
44
with the greatest impartiality and in accordance with the ruling rates on the market.
BIR ERNEST SATOW'S INTERVIEW WITH THE
COMMITTEE.
Following the precedent set on former visits of H.B.M.'s Ministers at Peking to the Colony, the Committee took the opportunity of inviting Sir Ernest Satow. G.C.M.G., H. B. M.'s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in the various questions awaiting settlement relat- China, to meet them and receive an Address on ing to the Colony's commercial dealings with China, amongst which were :---
Obstructions in the Canton River.
Foreign Flags.
Registration of Native-owned Junks under
Piracy on the West River. Inland Navigation Rules. Absconding Chinese Debtors. National Coinage for China. Payment of Customs Duties in Gold. British Commercial Treaty of Shanghai,
1902.
Proposed Increase of Taxation on Opium at Canton.
The meeting took place in the Chamber Room on the 6th August, and, after the Address had been read by the Chairman, His Excellency proceeded to discuss the subjects touched upon therein, taking them seriatim, asking for further information on several points, of which he made notes, and promising to give his early attention to all on his arrival in Peking. He concluded by expressing his gratification at having been afforded the opportunity of meeting the Com- mittes and thus being able to interchange views with them, and added an assurance of his readiness
ADDITIONAL TAX ON FOREIGN OPIUM AT CANTON.
authority with regard to the re-imposition of an A proclamation issued by the Viceroy's additional tax on foreign Opium in the Two Kwang Provinces appeared in Canton in June last, and as prompt measures were necessary in order to prevent the collection of this illegal Townley. H. B. M.'s Charge d'Affaires, Peking, tax, a telegram was despatched to Mr. Walter protesting against the proposed re-introduction in modified form of the tax which was successfully opposed after negotiation details followed by letter and support also extending over seven months in 1902. Full solicited from H. E. the Governor and Mr. Consul-General Scott. Energetic steps were taken by Mr. Walter Townley and Mr. James Scott at Peking and Canton respectively, with had the satisfaction of learning that the result that in August last the Committee exaction had once more been stopped.
the
OFFICIAL CODE VOCABULARY. Since 1890 the Telegraph Companies have been of the World an Official Code Vocabulary, and striving to impose on the Mercantile Community
many others, chief of whom was the London with equal regularity this Chamber along with Chamber, has strongly protested against such an arbitrary measure, which would have had the effect of forcing a higher rate of expenditure upon those who use cables by restricting the number of words and signs at their disposal and also throw upon owners of private codes great ary amendment of their codes, which in many inconvenience and expense through the neces8-
years of work. cases have been compiled at great expense and
|
The support of the Home Government Postal compulsory vocabulary, the International Con- Authorities was obtained, and instead of the ference decided to alter the rules relating to of letters not exceeding ten in number will be codes, and after 1st July, 1904, any combination passed as a code-word, provided that it is pro- nounceable according to the use of the language to which code-words have been limited, other combinations of letters will be counted as five letters to the word and the prohibition of letter cyphers which hitherto prevailed, is removed.
THE CURRENCY QEESTION.
The resolution passed at the Special General Meeting of Members held on 18th February, 1903. in favour of the Straits Currency Com- mission extending its inquiries to Hongkong with a view to ascertaining whether reform of the Colony's currency arrangements is advis- able, was communicated by H. E. Sir Henry Blake to Mr. Chamberlain. Secretary of State for the Colonies, who in reply referred to the resolutions passed at the conference between de- and Great Britain regarding the monetary legations from United States, China, Mexico, systems of silver-using countries and the establishment of a National Currency in the Chinese Empire, Resolution No. 2 reading as follows:-
That a national ourrency for the Chinese Empire, consisting of silver coins which shall be full legal tender throughout the Empire, is urgently desirable.' As soon as practicable, steps should be taken for the establishment in China of a fired rela- tion between the silver unit and gold."
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Mr. Chamberlain considered it would be inexpedient to appoint a Commission to inquire into the Hongkong Currency arrangements as it appeared to be out of the question to entertain the idea of adopting a gold standard of currency in the Colony while China remains a silver standard country.
The Tientsin Chamber having been informed that the Chinese Government were anxious. to the Shanghai and Hongkong Chambers of Com take action with regard to its Currency invited
Diplomatic Body in Peking with the object of merce to join in drawing up a Memorial to the instigating sympathetic support by that Body with the aims of the Chinese Authorities.
Jetty
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