April 19, 1908.]
largely benefit the shipping which frequents the port by affording greater protection to all classes of cargo. boats and lighters and by obviating the delays, which as pointed out in your predecessor's letter of the 16th July, 1904, are occasioned by the necessary early cessation of work of cargo boats and lighters which on the first warning of a typhoon have to seek shelter lest they be shut out of the inadequate refuge at Causeway Bay, the Governor deems it reasonable that portion of the cost should be recovered from a special tax on shipping.
5 In these circumstances the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, bas decided to ask the sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to defray half the cost out of the Colony's Reserves and at the same time His Excellency proposes to temporarily increase Light Daes on Ocean going vessels to 2 cents per fon and on River steamers to five-sixths of & sent per ton for each entry by day or by night as from the 1st June next, such increased rates to be maintained until the receipts from the ad- dition of 1 cents imposed in the one case and ofcent per ton for each entry by day or by night in the other, aggregate the sum of half the cost of the improvements detailed above.
It would have perhaps ben more logical to call the increase by the new name of Harbour Dues, but it is considered mure desirable and convenient to make no change in Lomenclature although the service for which the additional dues are imposed is not connected with the lighting of the Harbour.
6 His Excellency the Governor trust that your Chamber will recognise the reasonableness of the procedure which he proposes to adopt in order to enable a large work to be undertaken which will facilitate the uninterrupted loading and discharging of vessels in this port, and will safeguard the lives of thousands of men upon whose labour such work depends.
I am &c.,
The Secretary,
Sgd. F. H. MAY,
Colonial Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce. Enclosures were laid on the table. The letter from the overnment was dis- cussed. The Committee were strongly of opinion that the proposed expenditure of public funds was excessive and that sufficient protec- tion against typhoon could be built at much less cost than the gubernatorial proposals.
UPPER INDIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS AND DESIGNS.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
27th February, 1908.
The Secretary,
Upper India lamber of Commerce,
Cawnpore, India. DEAR SIR.—I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 80th January having reference to the Register which has been opened in your Chamber for the purpose of registering Trade Marks and Designs.
In reply my Committee are glad to be of service to your Chamber by giving publicity to the above matter, and I have to thank you en thair behalf for placing this information before them.
am, &c.,
Sgd. E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
SURVEYS UN PIECE GOODS.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
26th March 1908.
WALTER SPEAKMAN Esq.,
Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce,
Manchester. DEAR S18,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd December last on the subject of Surveys on Piece Goods.
My Committee are quite in sympathy with the views expressed in your letter under reply, and they are agreed that any irrelevant matter which may be brought in by Arbitrators in their awards is irregular but they are aware only of a few instances in which this has been the case and in these cases by special request of the parties concerned who ask not only
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
or a settlement of specific points but a report fon the survey generally.
You will of course understand that surveys on certain gooda bring up points which may apparently be extraneous to the matter in dispute but without which the award, by itself, would be incomplete, and in many cases would not form a sufficient basis for settlement between the parliès interested.
My Committee will be glad to enquire into any specific cases to which any Members of your Chamber may take exception, if you will bring them to the notice of this Chamter, and in cases which appear justifiable will use their influence towards the exclusion of any points but those specifically contained in the reference. I am, &c.,
(Sgd.) E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
YAEN.
The recent press articles concerning the action of the Japanese Yarn Merchants in seeking to artificially foster the Japanese Yarn trade to the detriment of the Indian Yara trade by means of a lottery were discussed.
It was decided that the only manner of deal. ing with such questionable methods of trading was through diplomatic channels per media of the principal Chambers at home, such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Glasgow, &c., and to ask the good offices of such Chambers.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
30th March, 1908. SIR-Ata Meeting of the Committee of this Chamber held on the 27th instant, an instance of the, nafortunately, well-known unfair trade methods adopted by some Japanese Merchants came up for discussion,
The enclosed press cuttings include, what this Chamber is assured, is a correct translation of a circular recently issued to Chinese Yarn Merchants in this Colony by the Japan Cotton Spinners' Association. My Committee are led to believe that the scheme first originated in the Settlement of Shanghai, and that the prizes offered were money prize. The Court of Consuls declaring this to be a lottery the Association notified the Yarn Merchants of the Northern Port that the priz s would be in kind i.e. Yarn.
The conditions of the lottery are fully set forth in the translation of the circular.
My Committee desire to bring to the notice of the principal Chambers of Commerce of Great Britian the fact that the yearly Yarn imports of the port of Hongkong are roughly valued at $25,000,000 Mexican Dollars and that of this large amount 90 par cent is Indian aud 10 per cent the Japanese article.
|
The British firms conducting this important branch of the Empire's trade do not fear fair competition, but they strongly represented to this Chamber that the proposed lottery is calcu- lated to appeal to the gambling instincts of the Chinese Merchants engaged in the Yarn trade, and to artificially foster the Japanese trade to the detriment of the Indian trade.
My Committee therefore hope that your Chamber will assist this Chamber by strongly protesting through the usual diplomatic chau- nels, and requesting the assistance of His Majesty's Government in the protection of British trade.
The Secretary
I have &c.,
237
My Committee feel that they can rely upon the co-oporation of your Chamber in this matter and trust your Committee will join them in seeking the aid of the principal Chambers in Great Britain in their endeavour to protect so important a branch of British trade.
My Committee are also requesting the support of the Tientsin Chamber.
I am, &o..
Sgd. E. A. H. WILLIAMS.
Secretary.
The Secretary,
Shanghai Chamber of Commerce,
Shanghai.
A similar letter was addressed to the Tientsin Chamber of Commerce.
COMMITTEE.
Mr. Medhurst's resignation consequent upon his leaving for home was regretted.
Mr. D. R. Law proposed that Mr. A. Babing- be invited to fill the vacancy. ton of Messrs. Shewan Thomes & Co., should' Mr. Keswick seconded and it was carried unanimously.
Mr. Wood said that as he was shortly leaving hands of the Committee and wished the Chamber for home he must place his resignation in the
every success for the future,
the Members of the Committee that they were Mr. D. R. Law expressed the deep regret of
about to lose the much valued services of s old a Member as Mr. Wood. Mr. Wood had been closely connected with the Chamber for 9 years.
He had been Chairman in 1895 and Yics-Chairman in 1893 and 1905 to 1908, and had also occupied very high publio offices in the Northern Port of Shanghai.:
The deep interest Mr. Wood bad always taken ledge he possessed of these rendered bis services in public and commercial affairs and the know.
to the Chamber almost invaluable. (Applause.)
Mr. Tomkins proposed that Mr. J. W. C. Bonner should be invited to fill the vacancy used by the regretted resignation of Mr. Wood,
Mr. D. R. Law seconded. Carried unanim- ously.
It was proposed by Mr. Tomkins, that the Hon. Mr Henry Keswick be asked to take the Chair. Carried.
Mr. Keswick thanked the Committee and said he was leaving the Colony about Jase until that time the Chamber could be assured of his best services.
This concluded the business before the Meeting.
SIR THOMAS JACKSON.
1
The Imperial Bank of Persia is fortunate in securing Sir Thomas Jackson to succeed the late Sir Lepel Griffin as Chairman. Sir Thomas qualities which go to success in banking in is of course new to Persian affairs; but the
East. And there is no doubt that, Sir l'homas oriental countries are the same all over the is one of the greatest lankers who has pushed British commerce abroad. There are difficult times ahead of the Imperial Bank, which will demaud all the skill of its directors. Great Britain is also closely interested in the prɔs- perity of the Bauk, for it is the only great commercial agency working in the country, and commerce and politics are interwoven in Persia. It is a singular fact that the working of the Bank last year, when the country was and the functions of seriously disturbed
Sgd, E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
London Chamber of Commerce, London. Similar letters. were also sent to the Liver- pool, Bradford, Manchester and Glasgow Cham-government seemed to be suspended, was one of the most profitable in its history. If ability bers of Commerce.
and experience couut, Sir Thomas should be able to maintain this prosperity.-Times of India.
<
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,,
8th April, 1908.
SIE, I am directed to request you to be good enough to lay before your Committee the enclosed copy of a letter which this Chamber has forwarded to the following Chambers of Commerce in Great Britain, viz: - London, Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, and Glasgow. The letter, to ether with the accompanying press cuttings fully set forth a serious grievance which the importers of Indian Yarn at this port consider they have against the Japan Cotton Spinners' Association.
A dispute between the Cantonese and Hakkas took place at Kowloon-chai the other day About fifty men on each side armed with bam- boos belaboured each other for some time. A Hakka lad was injured and had to be taken to the hospital by P. C. Perkins of Yaumati. Two of his assailants appeared before Mr. J. B. Wood at the Magistracy on Saturday and were fined $10 each or 16 days in prison.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.