140
Re
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
read, The CHAIRMAN then read the following letter:
Chambers,
Supreme Court, Hongkong,
24th February 1908.
Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the rply of the Committee of the Chamber to my leiter of 19th February on the subject of the minute of the Committee dealing with alteration of the Vacations of the Court. The contents of the reply, and the fact that apparently the minute has been slightly modifi d since it was first printed, compel me to trouble
with this further letter.
you
2. I am of course quite willing to believe that the innuendo contained in the minute was rot intended; but innuendo is not a ques- ¡ tion of intention but of fact; and the fact that this minute does contain this innuendo, is apparent from the tone of all the leading arti- cles in the newspapers which have been devoted to the subject.
The introduction of personalities in such a matter is I agree most regrettable. But they have been addressed to me and to my action in the matter owing to the unfortunate form in which the minnie was worded, and have caused me considerable annoyance. The facts which led to the change being made in the vacations were fully explained by me to you personally as Chairman of the Chamber; and in the face of my letter printed in the Appendix of the Report, of my further letter to you which is not printed in the Appendix, and of the fact of which I informed you that the alteration was made after consultation, and with the concurrence of the Committee of the +w Society, I can only repeat that "the facts which have led to the making of the Rule bare not the faintest resemblance to what is the plain inference from the minute. "
altogether refused to grant us the relief asked for. We can only suppose that the importance of the points raised has not been fully understood by His Majesty's Goverment or that other matters, to them of greater importance, bave occupied their attention to the exclusion of those questions, thus preventing them from carrying out what we consider a most necesary reform of the shipping laws of the Empire. A further attempt will be made later to bring about these reforms. Recent even's have at- tracted attention to the need of improvement in the lighting of the approaches of the harbour, and in the barbour itself. The report drawn up by the Committee appointed by His roel lency has not yet been made public but wa understand that suggestions have been made which if carried out will go far towards reducing the risk which now exist under certain conditions 10 vesse's altempting to enter the harbour after dark. There still remains a number of other interests
to for discussion which
3. referencs might be made but I have already dealt with so that it appears desirable to draw my many remarks to a close. Two important matters, the proposed new typhoon refuge, and the Kowloon Railway, must howe:er be mentioned The cost of both of these as we now learn greatly exceeds the original estimates, but the pressing need for proceeding with the work in both instances as promptly as possible is fully apparent, and
beliere just 85 fully realised by the Government, In my last address I referred to the loss the Colony had sustained through the departure of H.E. Sir Matthew Nathar. We have now to reco.d the arrival of his distinguished successor H. Sir Frederick Lugard who has already given evidence of the thoroughness with which he is mastering the details of the many questions
4. I notice that the words in the minute as relating to his new field of activity. As regards
members "the the membership of the Chamber some changes originally circulated to the have taken place during the past year, some of majority of the solicitors have apparently them I regret to say through death. In the been altered to many of the solicitors," for Committee itself changes have also taken that is the from in which the minute printed place. Mr. Siebs, I am sorry to sy, has in the papers. It may be that this change was been obliged to resign owing to failing health. made as the result of my letter; bat even in I am sure all of us will agree in expressing this modified form the innuendo remains uo- our sincere and unfeigned regret at this re changed. In this connexion I find that in my signation, and for its cause (applause). Mr. letter of 19th February I referred to the minute
containing the words the Siebs is, I believe, the oldest member of our
leading Committee and enjoys to the full the highest solicitors," a lapsus calami induced by the fact esteem of his fellow residents who respect bim that the "leading solicitors would probably
be included in the "majority of the solicitors' as an able business man and a courteous and
to Another re- upright gentleman (applause).
the minute refors; the greater signation is that of Mr. Haupt who is shortly including th· less. leaving for home. To both Mr. Siebs and Mr. Hanpt the Chamber are indebted for much good work and the Committee are glad to place on record their appreciation of the valuable advice which has always been accorded by them, in their deliberations. While regret- ting their departure we welcome their succes- sors, Mr. Fuchs and Mr. Friesland, who are both well known to you and whose election to the Committee we trust meets with your approval. After five years work as Secretary Mr. A. R. Lowe has found himself, through pressure of other business engagements, com. pelled to place his resignatio in the bands of the Committee. Mr. E. A. M. Williams has been selected from among the many applications for the post as his successor, an appointment which the Committee confidently recommends for confirmation. In conclusion I would only remind you that this Co. lony, in common with the East generally, has recently passed through a period of great financial depression and anxiety. We believe, however, that we Dow see sigra of a real improvement in trade and I trust that long before our next annual meeting is held, we will see a revival of trade in all branches and that we will be fast forgetting the lean years recently experienced (applaus-). This, gentle men, closes my address as prepared a few days ago.
Since then, another question which is referred to in our report has been some- what prominently brought before the committee, viz, the question of the extension of the long vacation. The entire correspondence dealing with the matter has now been printed and speaks for itself, and it does not appear to be necessary to add anything further on behalf of the committee than what you now have before I may say that I have received a further you. letter on the subject, which I think I had better
to
you
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t
which
1
5. In view of the discussion which has taken place in the newspapers in consequence of this minute of the Committee. in which my action is placed before the public in the most unfavour- able light, and in a light which the facta do not in the least warrant, it will of course be neces sary to make my letter public, and I ass" me that you will, as I requested, lay it before the meeting of the Chamber this afternoon.
I have the honour to be,-Sir,
Your most obedient servaut, (sgd) F. T. PIGGOTT.
Chief Justice.
I have not been favoured with a copy of the Supplementary Appendix to the Report referred to in para 4 of the letter under reply.
War
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the Chief Justice's letter was considered at a meeting on Saturday afternoon, consequently it impossible to place the full correspondence before members earlier. He cooluded by proposing the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
Mr. C. H. Ross-Gentlemen, I came bere
this afternoon propsied to listen with great interest to the Chairman's remarks, but I am sorry to say I have not heard a single word (applause), and I fear there are a great many sitting in the back rows who have heard no thing of what the Chairman said (applause). However, you will read it all in the newspapers to-morrow (to-day) therefore I will proceed, I have listened, as I am sure you have also, with the greatest interest to the comprehensive resume by the Chairman, of the matters which have been dealt with by the Chamber during the past year. Our Chambers of Commerce, and Kindred Associations, have come
to be regarded as the "watchdogs" of ar trade,
the medium of they form
communication between those in authority and commercial
|
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[March 2, 1908. communities, and it is to them generally speak - ing that we look to safeguard our commercial interests. It is always therefore a matter of supreme importance that those entiasted
the | with
active management of these affairs Chambers'
should be men of and tact, and that judgment
they should be well versed in commercial details and in local customs and ways. Those of us who are acquainted with the inner working of our Chamber, know that the post of Chairman is by no means a sinecure, and it is one which at all times it is difficult to fill. It is a post of honour, and while no doubt in a community such as ours there
4
to
may be many who possess ability for the position, yet it generally happens that those RO qualified have neither the inclination nor the time to devote to its needs. Others again possess the inclination but lack the ability. I think all of you have taken the trouble to digest the somewhat voluminous report of the matters dealt with by our Chamber and will agree with me that we are fortunate in having at our dis- posal the services of a Chairman who not only has The inclination and ability for such work, but who also is fortunate enough to be in a position to spare the time necessary to successfully carry it out, and I am sure gentlemen you will agree with me that we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Hewett and also to the General Committee for their labours of the past year. Mr. Hewett in his very comprehensive speech, bas touched on most of the important questions which have come before the Chamber during the period under review, by far the most important of which was the attempted Opium Monopoly at Nanking, by reason of its close association with the avowed intention of the Chinese Govern- ment to suppress the use of Opium through. out the Celestial Empire. The contemplated monopoly, thanks to the timely representations of the British Minister, died a sudden death, and I trust that the day may not be far distant when the eyes of the world may be opened to the obvious insincerity of the Chinese Govern- ment with regard to the proposed suppression of the consumption of opium in China. As the Chairman asid in bis letter of the 3rd Septem- ber to the Colonial Secretary, it is possible that several of the leading High Officials in the Chinese Empire may be quite sincere in their desire to check the production and consumption of opiam, but that the Chinese overnment is equally sincere in this desire, I do not believe,
avowed and I regard their
intention put an end to the cultivation of the poppy as a deliberate attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the Foreign Governments concerned in this trade. In our own countries, we also have certain well meaning enthusiasts who think they can abolish vice by law, but I do not think any have yet gone so far as to propose or imagine that the consumption of strong liquors in Westera Countries could be suppressed in a decade! If this ba so, how I would ask can it be possible for a weakly governed country like Chios to hope to stamp out her besetting vice in this short space of time? We are told by those who profess to know, that the opiam is the curse ol Eastern racea and of the Chinese in particular. All I can say, gentlemen, is, that I have lived a good many years in the East and in the Far East, over which I have wandered from port to port, also in the interior, and my impression is that opiam is not to hundredth part such a ourse in the East as strong drink is in the West. Take away opium from the Chinaman, and he will inevitably tara to strong drink. opium as his vice, the Chinaman is a peaceful and lawabiding being, but I wonder much whether his character might not alter materi. ally if he drank cheap whisky instead of smoking opium. This is a point to which the present Manchu Rulers of China might well give careful thought and study, if they wish to prolong the period of their Dynasty, sad if perchance they are sincere in their avowed desire. Other very important matters such as Priv te Mooring Buoys in the Harbour," and the "Lighting of the Harbour seem to me to have been fully dealt with in the report in your porsasion, and as I understand there are others wishing to speak on certain matters, I will not longer trespam on your time, I have much pleasure Sir, ia seconding the adoption of the annual report and scoounts (applause). The motion was carried unanimously.
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