Jane 1, 1907.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
they could not recommend Hongkong giving | telegraph to the Rt. Hon. the Secretary of State its adhesion to the Convention.
The Committee decided to make a further contribution of £10. towards
the Parlia mentary Expenses Fund in connection with the proposed bill dealing with the above ques- tion. As is now known the Bill has been before the House of Commons but was thrown on the second reading on the 22nd March by a majority of 150 to 118 after a speech against the bill by the President of the Board of Trade. No doubt more will be heard in due course on the subject from the Decimal Association
ont
In he spring of last year the Chamber was invited to send delegates to the sixth Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire to be held in London in July, 1906.
The following gentlemen were invited to act as representatives, Sir Thomas Jackson, Messrs. Gershom Stewart, R. C. Wilcox and F. Salin- ger. Mr. C. W. Di kson was also asked fo represent the Chamber bnt did not reach England in time to do so
Mr. Stewart and Mr Wilcox attended the Congres and the former spoke in favour of the resolution for a preferential agreement within the Empire.
The official programme of the Conference however did not unfortunately reach the ('om- mittee in time to enable them to communicate their views on those points likely to affect the trade of Hongkong to the representatives.
Some very important correspondence has passed with regard to certain proposed modifi- cations in the Emigration Ordinance No. 1 of 1889.
The present laws unquestionably inflict con- siderable hardship on British Shipowners and seriously handicap them in an important branch of their trade when competing with foreign ship-owners.
The Committee of this Chamber feel that the time has gone by when such strict regulations should be enforced, as for instance the refusal to allow emigrants to be carried for a voyage of over 30 days' duration or to a Country other tban a British possession.
The views of the Committee are fally set forth in the letter addressed to the Hon. Colonial Secretary, dated 14th August last, and the will no doubt be unanimously endorsed by the Members of the Chamber.
So far the only answer to the Chamber's protest has been that the matter will receive farther consideration from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Another question in connection with this Ordinance has also been raised viz: thet all passengers
on board of Asiatic birth including first and second saloon passengers are counted as <<
Emigrants and if over 20 such passengers are carried the steamer has to take out a special certificate and these passengers are treated as emigrants.
Representations having been received on the subject from the Via Suez Mail Lines, the question has been referred to the Government, but up to the present it is not known if the Seoretary of State intends to deal with this question,
It is to be hoped that both the above points will reog ve the consideration of the Conference now sitting in London under the Chairmanship of the President of the Board of Trade to consider the working of the Navigation Laws of the Empire.
Aserious dispute haring arisen between the Cassia Guild and the foreign buyers at Canton, the Chamber of Commerce at that Port asked the assistance of this Chamber in the matter. The correspondence was at
Doce circulated among the members of the Chamber so that those who were interested in the Cassia trade might be fully posted as to the position of ffairs in Canto u.
It is with great regret that the Committee find it is necessary to record another serious pirated attack on the British steamer Sainam in the water of the neighbouring provinces of China when a passenger, a British subject, was murdered, the Captain left for dead and several of the crew wounded, the vessel being plundered.
This took place on the night of
the 13th July, and as soon as possible after the news
reached Hongkong a meeting of the Committee of the Chamber was held (on the 17th idem.) when it was decided to
for Foreign Affairs urging the importance of His Majesty's Govaramont taking up the question in the strongest possible manner with the Chinese Authorities, not only with a view to having the miscreants responsible for the out- raga brought to justice bnt to demanding proper guarantees that the waterways of the provinces of the Two Kwangs he properly policed, or undertake this work. failing this, that the Brilish Government should
Unless the maiter were dealt with firmly and effectively, the Committee further stated that and that further outrages would probably occur. life, property and trade were absolutely unsafe ¦
A somewhat similar telegram was despatched to Sir Thomas Jackson with the request that the matter be laid before the Congress of the Chambers of Commerce, but if the Congress was already closed the telegram be forwarded to the London Chamber of Commerce.
It is admitted that in this case the local Chinesa Authorities acted with promptiind- sent at the request of H.M. Minister, but the under the stimulus of instructions from Peking Committee wish to again point out that they do not consider any excuse can be made for the Provincial Authorities in sufficient control over their districts so as to not maintaining
render such attacks as this impossible
In this belief the Committee further strongly supported the owners of the Sainam in their reasons for so doing are set forth in full in the claim for consequential damages and their various letters dated 20th November address-d to the Se retaries of State for the Colonies, and for Foreign Affairs, the Hongkoug Govern ment, and the London Chamber of Commerce.
(
Finding that the Rt. Hon. the Secretary of entertain the claim preferred for consequential State for Foreign Affairs had refused to
damages by the owners of the Saman the
action pending receipt of a written protest Committee telegraphed asking him to suspend against this decision.
regret that His overnment declined to alter their
The Committee much Majesty's decision.
The Committee hold the opinion that failure to exact fall and just reparation for such an officials to continue in their old courses and to outrage is a direct encouragement to the local
complacency, npon attacks of this nature which look with indifference, if not with actual are calculated to hamper and injure foreign trade in China, a trade which is being carried ont under treaty obligations and for which the Chinese Government is responsible for rendering full protection,
389
abandon any attempt at legislaticu on this complex question.
On the departure of Mr. R. Shewan for England in April, this gentleman, who has represented the Chamber of Commerce in the Legislative Council since 1992, resigned his position. The Chamber are much indebted to Mr. Shewan for the attention devoted to their interests during his term of Off£39.
A meating of the members of the Chamber was held on the 26th April 1966 when the Chairman, Mr. E. A. Hewett, was elected to succeed Mr. Shewan, there being no other Candidate put forward.
under the control of the Imperial Maritime While it is stated a force of armed launches
of the Delta with a view to checking piracy the | Customs is to he shortly placed upon the waters
Committee still consider that H. M. Govern. ment should extend their own service of small; vessels for the purpose of rendering that
protection to British trade which has been demanded so often in vain, from Chinese Government.
The question of late delivery of Manchester Chamber of Commerce, a circular letter on the goods having been raised by the Liverpool subject was sent to the members of this Chamber interested in the piece goods trale. A Sub. Committee was formed who agreed upon a clause which they suggested should be embodied in all
Contracts.
During the year nuder review the following firm has been elected to membership of the Chamber:-Stockton Milling Co., Ltd.; while Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., has left the Colony.
The Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson and Mr. F. Salinger having left Hongkong, their places were filled by Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson and Mr. H. E. Tomkins. also been absent from the Colony his place was Mr. J. R. M. Smith having
taken by Mr. H. E. R. Hunter.
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It will be noticed that daring the year 1906 the expenditure exceeded the income by $705.73. This was due partly to the large falling off in subscription to Reater's Political Telegrams and ou the other hand to an increase in several items of expeadilare more particularly on account of telegrams, $915.31 having bien so spent, the great put being in connection with the San piracy case.
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After farther consultation however batween the Chambers of Commerce of Manchester, Bradford, and Liverpool, it was finally decided to abandon the proposed alteration in the wirding of the Coutracts in view of the diver. gent views held by many engaged in the trade. The question of Registration of Partnerships has again been brought up by
the Si gapore Chamber of Commerce who forwarded i a draft of a bill which it had been prop sed to bring into force in the Straits Settlements, together with a report in the bill made by an influential Committee appointed purpose.
for
that
The difficulties in dealing with this rexed question are clearly demonstrated by the differ- ences of opinion which exist among the membera of the Committee as shown in their report.
It is understood that the Straits Government has, for the time being at all events, decided to
The income was $16,379.55, including sub. scriptions $6,535, market report sales $323.95 subscriptions to Renter's telegrams $7,314.85, and interest on investments $1,052.75.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION. The following correspondence has been sent to us for public information:-
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
17th May, 1907. SIR,-You are no doubt aware that during the past four years the Chambers of Commerce of Hongkong, Shanghai and Tientsin have sent two joint Memorials to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps at Peking arging upon the Foreign Representatives the necessity in direct- Government to the unsatisfactory condition of ing the attention of the Imperial Chines
the currency of the Empire, and the orying need which exists for thorough reform as a first step towards placing the finances of China on a satisfactory footing.
These Memorials were dated respectively 6th August 1903 and 12th September 1904.
In spite of the representations which have re- Imperial Government, no real step towards the subject to the peatedly (been mad's on
reform has as yet been taken, and these Chambers of Commerce have therefore decided to send a farther memorial to Peking, the draft of which has been agreed upon.
I now beg to hand you copy of this Memorial already signed here and which has now been forwarded to Shanghai for signature.
A copy of the Memorial will also be sent direct to each of the Foreign Ministers at Peking Officer Administering the Government has al- It is understood that His Excellency the ready taken up the question of currency reform and I have now the honour on behalf of this Chamber to request that
he will specially bring the matter to the notice of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the seriously affected by the present deplorable Colonies, as not only is our trade with Chins condition of China's currency. but the local industries of this Colony and our daily trade and retail business in like manner suffer from an excess of depreciated, subsidiary coins which it is imposible to exclude from the Colony.
In the opinion of the Committee of this Chamber the first step towards reform is to place the whole of the mints under Imperial control and to put an end possible to the issuing of coins or bank notes as promptly as by the Provincial authorities.
These local Authorities, as a rule, would seem to be wholly ignorant of the first princi- ples of Imperial finance for they apparently regard their mints chiefly as yt one more mesas of making money for themselves during their tenure of office, without regard to the dis- location of trade sud the evil effects generally which may result from flooding their distriota
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