September 30, 1907. j
It is to be an appendage to the "general" de- partment, or even an integral part of it. We can scarcely suppose this to be the case, but it seems clear, at any rate, that it will be an integral part of the Colonial Office. It must be confessed that Lord Elgin's allusions to its status are not altogether reassuring. He says the post of secretary should be filled by a man "of a standing which would justify his access, whenever neo ssary, direct to the Secretary of State." Certainly it should be; that is putting it very low when we remember that the original suggestion was for a Secretariat distinct from
the Colonial office, and responsible to the
Conference alone.
The objection appears to be that the wishes of the Conference have not been fully met. The new Secretariat, emanating from and remaining a part of the Colonial Office, cannot be considered as altogether and solely responsible to the independent states of the new Imperial federation and the British Premier. It will require com ments from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa before we can tell whether the change has gone far enough, or is only a half measure. At present, the only home papers who seem to have clear ideas on the subject consider that more will be required to satisfy the Colonies-and Dominions,
fain see.
BAD BUSINESS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE' REPORT.
a cheat. This impudent exploiter of human credulity writes to "Dear Friend,
"that
"(
your name came into our possession from such a reliable source," that he does not hesitate to offer an agency (on cash terms) for his "Health Restorer." He is gracious enough to say, "From what we have learned about you, we are confident that you are just the person we are looking for. From our information at hand we have reason to believe that you are, like other ambitious people, anxious to increase your present income by becoming associated with a well paying established business." This, we may parenthese, was addressed to a busy taipan who has more money than he can reasonably spend, and who in any case would rather cut his throat than try to foist on his friends and neighbours any quack medicine whatever. Like a sensible man when he finds himself really ill, he calls in a qualified medical man. The "confidential information" accompanying the offer be- trays what enormous profits these poison- hawkers make; but our correspondent's request that we should pub ish the whole thing seems inadvisable; not that there is any fear of libel, but that it might actually belp the rascals by advertising their
business. There is another out of countless examples that might be quoted, a pestering firm at Canton which bas bad to abandon its Hongkong office because its gambling system of selling its goods was contrary to local law. We hear numerous complaints from people receiving its glaring mail matter, who dislike the idea that their office staffs or household members should imagine therefrom that they would have any truck" with such a business. There ought to be some legal means of stopping the nuisance, by suing the senders for constructive libel, or something. Or better still, should we not prosecute for trespass in our letter boxes and mail bags, claiming for moral and intellectual damage? One thing seems clear, that such reckless circularising is more likely to provoke annoyance than orders.
193
Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, 28th August, 1907.
The Secretary,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong.
DEAR SIR,-Your letter of the 18th instant, enclosing copies of the draft Ordinance, entitled "Companies (Extra Colonial Register) Ordin- ance, 1907," has been laid before my Committee.
After carefully considering same, I am directed to suggest the following alterations, in which I trust your Committee will acquiesce. stitute paid np Capital"
Clause 4. Section (2) for nominal capital sub-
Section (8) b. delete the words" who shall have died domiciled elsewhere than in the Colony." Clause 6. Section (1) for one month" substitute three months
I am, &c.,
•
(8gd.) J. D. Canning,
Secretary.
The CHAIRMAN also read extracts from and Tientsin explaining the views held by those private letters from leading lawyers in Shangbai interested in the working of Hongkong Registered Companies at those ports.
After some discussion it was agreed to support the Bill subject to alterations suggested by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce.
OPIUM MONOPOLY AT NANKING,
The following letter was read - Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT.,
Hongkong, 27th August, 1907.
Chairman,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, 318, We have the honour to bring to your a'tention the following copies of correspondence in connection with the intention of the Viceroy at Nanking to grant a monopoly of the Opium trade in Nanking
C
1. Copy of letter addressed to H.B.M.'s opiam dealers there, dated 27th June. Consul General, at Shanghai, by the foreign
2. Copy of letter addressed to the Chairman of the China Association, dated 11th July. Consul General, Shanghai, dated 2nd August.
3. Copy of lotter addressed to H.B.M.'s
4. Extracts from "sin Wan Pao." porters by the Swatow Opium
5. Translation of a letter addressed to im
Guild in Shanghai.
6. Translation of an Official despatch published in the "Bouth China Journal" of the Viceroy of Liang re the erection of an Opium Monopoly
Office.
In connection with the above, which will give roa full information on the matter, we beg to
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER inform you that an emissary of the Viceroy of
OF COMMERCE.
We have received for publication the follow. ing official minutes of a monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held in the Chamber Room, St. George's Building, Present Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman), Hongkong, оп Tuesday, 3rd September. Mr. A. G. Wood (Vice-Chairman), Hon. Mr. Henry Keewick, Messrs. A. Haupt. G. H. Medhurst, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tomkins and AR. Lowe, (Secretary).
(Daily Press, September 28th.) Business men, as we lately remarked, have some right to resent or ignore the positive counsels of ill-informed advisers. Outsiders can claim no title to tell them what they ought to do, to achieve either the immediate benefit they hope for, or the indirect advant ages of national pre-eminence and prestige that the self-constituted counsellors would The case seems different when negative counsels are concerned. We do claim that there are a few things we may warn them not to do, and the receipt of a chatty, personal circular, advising us to buy a sewing machine and do our own sewing, affords the opportunity for us to retort with the suggestion that such advertisers should get a little commonsense somewhere, and avoid the error of hawking refrigerators among the Eskimo. The first Yankee who hit upon the idea of personally addressing possible customers by mail, in the interests of bis trade, was a smart business man. We have no doubt that he prospered. But the crowd of imitators who have sequaciously followed him is a weariness to the firsb, and distinctly discouraging to the person who might in the ordinary course of things go and patronize them. Our notion of the Simple Life does not include doing our own sewing. If it did, we would be consistent, and stick to the old-fashioned needle and thread, provided always that we could learn to thread the needle. The sewing-machine proposition has come to the wrong address, and we must flatly refuse even the wheedling request at the end of the letter to "think it over.' Picking out addresses in the Directory for these personal appeals should be done locally and with - great discretion. A taipan unable to scale more than 8 stone 18 lbs cannot help being annoyed by finding in his morning letters a typewritten or pseudo-typed recommen. dation to try a certain Anti-fat preparation. The worst case of all that we have so far encountered comes from Washington, D.C., directed to a personal address in "Victoria ggestions they may wish to make in order Town, Hong Kong." Postage prepaid· that this Chamber may consider the same before a mercy commanding gratitude the replying to the Hongkong Government's envelope is endorsed "A Business Proposi-request for this Chamber's opinion of the Bill. tion for your Personal
I am to ask for the favour of an early reply,
I have &o
"
Consideration.
Answer by Return Mail" We do not regard it as a business like proposition at all. It is so palpably the composition of a liar and
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on the 18th ultimo were read, and confirmed.
LEASE OF OFFICES.
of the rooms at present occupied for another period of 3 years from 30th instant on the same
The CHAIRMAN said he had renewed the lesse
terms.
COMPANIES (EXTRA COLONIAL REGISTER)
ORDINANCE, 1907.
The following correspondence was read :--
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
13th August, 1907. SIR-I am directed to forward for the informa.
tion of your ommittee copy of a draft ordinance entitled "Companies (Extra Colonial Register) opinion thereon and for any comments Ordinance, 1967," and to ask your Committee's
The
or
Nanking is now in the Colony' and has actually purchased Opium for the Bureau.
We understand that the Chinese Authorities
in the other Provinces are closely watching the course of events at Nanking with a view, if successful, of forming monopolies in the other centres of the Opium trade also.
important question prompt attention and lay We would therefore request you to give this the matter before the Government or take such other steps as may appear advisable to your Committee.
We have &c.
(Bgd.) David Sassoon & Co., LTD. E. D. SASSOON & Co. 8. J. DAVID & CO.
E. PABANEY.
TATA SONа & Co.
H. M. H NOMAZEE,
Cawasjen Pullanjce & Co. P. F. TALATI,
M. E. H. Ellias.
ABDOOLALLY ÉBRAHIM & Co. C. ABDOOLa & Co. MOOSA VIZira & Co. PHIROSHA P. PETIT & Co. A discussion followed and it was decided to
represent the matter to the Government as a H.B.M.'s Minister at Peking protesting against breach of Treaty rights and to send a cable to
the proposed Monopoly at Nanking.
SECRETARYSHIP.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Sub-Committee appointed for the purpose of selecting a new becretary had engaged Mr. E. A. M. Williams of Mears. Lowe and Bingham's Office, whose duties would commence in February next. In the meantime Mr. A. R. Lowe would continue to set
(8gd.) A. R. Lowa, Secretary. Secretary, General Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai. ' Meeting.
This concluded the business before the
彝
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