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June 1, 1907.]
The annual meeting of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce was held in the City Hall on May 29th. Hon. Mr F. A. Hewett presided and there were also present Hon. Mr. H. Keswick, Mesars. H. E. Tompkins, G. H. Medhurst, J. R. M. Smith, D. R. Law, A Haupt (committee), A. R. Lowe (Secretary), W. D. Graham, A. G. Gordon, A. 8. D. Cousland, W. L. Carter, E. A. Soolemanjee, A. S. Abdol- onder, A. Beattie, A. Forbes, 8. G. Newall, E. H. Hinde, E. Ormiston, D. W. Craddock, J. Douglas, A. Shelton Hooper, E. Shellim, J. Armstrong and J. M. Beok.
The SECRETARY having read the notice calling the meeting, the minutes of the last meeting were confi: med.
L
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the report and accounts having been in your hands for some days I will, with your permission, take them as read. Before proposing their adoption will offer a few remarks on those more important points which have engaged the attention of the Committee daring the past twelve months. Some of these are what might be described as hardy annuals" reappearing regularly with great persistency. Unfortunately they do not always show those signs of improvement which we might have expected from their having received still another term of careful attention. However in some directions we are glad to be able to see that very material progress has been made towards a better state of affairs, Chief among these comes the projected railway scheme from Hongkong which we trust will before long link us with the farthermost parts of the Empire and ultimately direct with Europa. A good start has been made with the construction of the line in British Territory and while we are glad to learn that at last the construction of the extension line to Canton has been definitely arranged, we are also, we believe, justified in hoping that the difficulties which formerly existed as to a satisfactory working agreement between the two sections of the railway from Kowloon Penin ala to Canton will shortly be removed and that before long a definite agree ment will be come to between those concerned
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
861
such a heinous crime
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER | visiting this Port. This overcrowding has in our proposal. It is the existence of regula-
OF COMMERCE,
part been relieved by the withdrawal of so many tions such as this which are now practically of our larger vessels from the China Squadron obsolete which handicap our shipping in and also by an agreement recently arrived at competition with that of other nationalities in between the late Acting arbour Master, Lient.
the world's commerce, Feckwith, R.N., on behalf of the Colony and endeavoured to have modifled is that 1st and Another point we have the Naval Authorities whereby a readjustment 2nd saloon Asiatic passengers should not be has been made of a portion of the barbour | considered as Emigrants' and thus neces- This has resulted in its being possible to relay passengers being treated as an Emigrant ship. formerly reserved for the use of H. M. vessels. sitate a vessel carrying over 20 of such them at a greater distance spart has made have as yet failed to bring about a modification some of the permanent moorings and by placing Here again I regret to say our representations them available for the largest steamers visit of an old rule, the absurdity of which as we are ing this harbour. This scheme was inaugu- now situated is so obvious as to need no com- Barnes-Lawrence, and we are much indebted Government being that in order to deal with rated by our late Harbour Master Captain ment from me, the excuse put forward by the to all those concerned in bringing about this this matter the Imperial Merchant Bhipping improvement in our facilities for berthing large Act must be amended. It is with regret ressels. The long-delayed Colonial Conference find I have again to refer to a piratiosl attack that the representatives were determined to
as now been held in London and as we learn upon a British vessel. The story of the piracy of the Sainam accompanied by the murder do good work and appear to have met in a of an English passenger and the wounding of spirit of cordial goodwill and desire to benefit several others, including the Commander. the Empire at large we trust that great good is of too recent occurrence to require We await farther reference in detail. The owners, may result from their labours. with interest a detailed report of the proceed. | realizing the far reaching and ings. The important question of fiscal reform pling effect. which
crip- will always be one of great interest to Hong- would have upon trade generally on the kong as any change in the existing conditions waterways of the neighbouring province, of affairs must have very direct hearing on very rightly decided to claim not only for the trade of this Colony and as pointed out in my actual but for consequential damages. The annual addre-s three years ago the matter is justice of this claim was fully endorsed by one which concerns as very nearly. Any the Committee and finding that H. M. Govern- recommendation therefore which may have ben ment had refused to present this claim to the made on this subject by the Conference will be Imperial Government, the Committee represent- carefully considered by the Committee ased in the strongest possible manner to the nothing should be done which is likely to impair Secretaries of State for the Colonies and for the freedom of our Port. Another question Foreign Affairs the injury which anch a which has of late giren rise to much disenssion policy if persisted in would have upon British is that of the proposed gradual extinction of the trade in China. We succeeded in inducing opiam traffic. To this no one can raise any the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs objection if the proposals of the Chinese to postpone action until our written despat. Government are honest, and that steps are che could be before him but we regret to really to be taken to suppress the cultivation of find that H. M. Government decline to the plant in their own country as well as to reconsider their decision although wa gradually put a stop to the importation of the strongly supported by the London Chamber foreign drug. But it will be necessary to keep of Commerce. As we are aware the Imperial a very careful watch to see that while the and Provincial Authorities are perfectly able cultivation is also receiving like treatment and should they really desire to do so. foreign trade is being decreased the home to control their people in this direction The question not that under cover of an oatory against the of the suppression of piraov in the Southern opium trade in general, imported opium is provinces has been dealt with over and over be abolished for the benefit of the again by this Chamber and I can add but little native product which, B3 we all know, is to what has already been said on the subject. so largely in the hands of, and brings so much The only way by which we can show the Chinese revenue to, the high Provincial Authorities. Authorities we are in earnest in our demands I would add that the amount of foreign opium that we be allowed to carry on our trade in is relatively but a very small proportion of safety under the terms of our treaties is by the enormous quantity of the drug consumed demanding fall compensation for all losses in China. The opium trade is indeed and sustained by British subjects through lawless- has been for a great number of years a most ness which could be restrained by the native important matter for Hongkong in more ways officials were they desi-ons of doing so. than one, and many serious questions arise in action now taken by H.M. Government is a connection with this proposed gradual extinction direct incentive to farther acts of violence and I of them of wider import and more general of the trade. These questions are many
interest than can be fully dealt with by this Chamber and can more fittingly be discussed elsewhere when the moment arrives to consider what effect the proposed suppression of the Trade may have on the Colony at large. Ao other question which has engaged the attention of the Committee since our last meeting is that of the carrying of Asistio passengers under the existing Emigration. Ordinance as
As the Imperial Act. I would mention modelled on
you that during the past week a despatch has been
are aware this question of Chinese Emigration sent to the Colonial Secretary asking his has recently been again brought prominently Excellency the Cficer Administering the forward in connection with possible demand for Government to bring the matter specially to Chinese labour for Central and Southern the notice of His Majesty's Secretary of America. We feel that in this matter British
Since drafting this shipowners should be able under report that has been rccomplished.
with able restrictions, to compete The question of the working of the Crown Agent owners in what may in time prove to be a Uffice has again been raised by the Ceylon Cham- very large and valuable branch of our pas- ber of Commerce but at the moment the Commit-senger trade. In order to do this it is neces- tes can only confirm the opinion it (xpressed in 1903; the matter is however one which will
in these various ventures. We are glad to learn that the loan of £1,500,000 for the
construction of the extension of the line to Canton was subscribed several times over on issue in London. As regards Nanning it has, after many years agitation, at last been thrown open to foreign trade and it is satisfactory to know that. from the outset the city as well as the foreign settlement will be included in the likin free area. Weichow, on the East River should also be added to the list of foreign trading ports as provided for under the terms of the Mackay Treaty. We believe that the opening of these important inland trade centres will benefit Chinese and foreigners alike and we would like to see this policy ex- tended in the interests of all concerned in enlarging the trade of China. The question of currency reform in China has again engaged the attention of the Committee and for a third time in the last four years this Chamber has joined with Shanghai and Tientsin in a joint memorial to the Diplomatic Body on the subject, and we hope that at length some definite steps will be taken to place this most important
matter on a sounder basis
*tate for the Colonies.
be carefully watched and perhaps we may obtain further enlightenment with regard to operations as carried out by the Crown Agents on behalf of the Colony now that we are entering upon the work of railway construction. As matters stand however we do not see any reason for holding other opinions than those already expressed. On a previous occasion I referred to the congested state of the harbour due to the increasing number and length of the vessels
to
reason.
other
sary for the existing regulations to be revised so that contract labour can be carried for voyages of more than 3 days duration, and to countries other than British possessions. We suggested that a proviso should be made that the labour be carried under mutual
were
The
unhesitating manner endorse the views of the trust the members of the Chamber will in no Committee as expressed in the despatches now. before you. ( (Applause.) I would add that an earnest protest against the decision of the Govern ment in this matter has been recently forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the London Chamber of Commerce. The question of piracy naturally directs attention to a question which is of the greatest possible moment to all interested in the overses trade of on Empire. I refer to the condition of His Majesty's Navy. This is scarcely a fitting place to enter into a discussion on naval matters even were I sufficiently conversant with the subject to oriticise the present policy of My Lords of the Admiralty. There is however one point on which I think I may venture to express an opinion.
I refer to the present system of concentration which results in practically the whole of the Navy being constantly collected together in large fleets. This policy is no doubt a wire one and must ensure greater efficiency should these fleets be called upon to defend the country, but it does appear to me that local needs are being unduly sacrificed to the one conception.
} not increasing the number of our smaller
Not only are
the world where their presence is urgently required, more particularly in the waterways of China, but the White Ensign has almost disappeared from some of the Seas. Through- out the whole of the Pacific only two small
We
agreement between the Governments of the vessels in the more distant parts of country from which the labourers come and that to which they were bound.
The matter has been duly represented through H. E. the Governor but we regret to find that up to the present H. M. Government decline to entertain
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