November 23, 1908.]
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
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, on Thursday, the 12th November, 1908, at 4 p.m. Present:-Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman), Messrs. A. Babington, J. W. C. Bounar, G. Friesland. D. R. Law, E. Shellim, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tomkins and E. A. M. Williams (Secretary).
MINUTES,
The minutes of the meetings held on the 13th and 25th July, and 29th October, 1908. res- pectively, were confirmed.
VICE-CHAIRMANSHIP.
The CHAIRMAM proposed that Mr. D. R. Law be elected Vice-Chairman.
Upon Mr. Law regretting his inability to act he proposed Mr. J. R. M. Smith.
The CHAIRMAN seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously
COMMITTEE.
The Committee very much regretted the untimely death of Mr. R. Brodersen. The filling of the vacancy was left over to be considered at a future date.
COLOUR OF TIME BALL AT KOWLOON. Further letter from Government -- No. 4540/1908.
Colonial Secretary's Office.
Hongkong. 17th July, 1908. Sir-In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, I am directed to inform you that as the dimensions of the Time-Ball Apparatus cannot be varied in any particular, effect can only be given to the proposal of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire by raising the height of the tower.
2. His Excellency the Governor is not prepared to make any such structural alteration in the tower at the present time and I am to point out that even if the alteration were made, it would not provide entirely against such contingencies as a jank sailing across the line of sight near a distant vessel at the critical moment.-I am. &c..
The Secretary.
(Sød.) F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
Without limiting the time of any Delegates, is is estimated that the arrangements for collec. tive examination and entertainment in the various states will occupy about the periods as set out hereunder, excluding intervals for travel between States :--
Queensland
New South Wales Victoria
South Australia Tasmania
Western Australia
days
12 (Including) (Congress)
9
5 6
The Congress and general arrangements will be under the control of the Central Committee appointed by the Associated Chambers of Com- merce of Australia for that purpose.
Each State will form its own Committee for arranging visits to places and objects of interest for demonstrating the industrial resources of Australia and for entertainment within each State. Special facilities will be made for visits to representative sheep stations, typical indus- tries etc.,
Assurances are received from each State that all arrangements will be most complete, and the comfort and interest of visitors will be well cared for throughout.
A full list of hotels and private apartments will be sent to all Chambers invited to the Con- gress and arrangements made for special rates where possible. housing arrangements being allocated to a special Committee in each State.
The Commonwealth Government and each State Government are rice every facility to Degates. hiet the kaway Commissioners in the several States have agreed to give the Delegates a free pass over the Railways, and special rates will be arranged with the inter- Colonial steamers.
The P. & O. and Orient Companies will recommend a considerable reduction in pas- senger rates, but that matter requires to be settled by the Head Office in London. and negotiations are
now proceeding with those Companies and with the Union Steamship Company, the Canadian Pacific Railway and Atlantic Liners for ponding reductions. Similar egotiations will also be undurtaken with the Cape Lines,
cortex.
...
It is expected that a Round the World rate will he secured at £100 for the above routes. either way.
The Chamber of Commerce in each Capital
SEVENTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF com. | City will act as Agents for visitors and make
MERCE OF THE EMPIRE 1909.
Letter from London Chamber :---
Oxford Court. Cannon Street. London, E.. 26th June, 1901. Dear Sir,-The majority of Chambers having given their vote in favour of accepting the invitation to hold the next Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire in Australia, the Congress Organising Committee in London recently confirmed this choice, and notified the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Australia accordingly.
The draft of the general programme of events has now been received by the London Chamber from the Hon. William Knox. Chairman of the Organising Committee in Australia. as follows:-
喜
(a) The Congress will be held in Sydney about 14th September. 1909.
(b) The Federal Reception and sub-Con- ference will be held in Melbourne about 28th September.
It is assumed that Delegates will enter the Commonwealth at:-
(a) Brisbane in the East via Vancouver. from Great Britain and Canada.
(b) Freemantle in the West via Suez and Colombo, from Great Britain, India and the
Før East.
(c) Direct from South Africa and New Zealand. In consequence, therefore, of Delegates arriv. ing from the East and West and the possibility of their being unable to retrace their steps over our extensive territory, it is assumed that there may be only a full gathering of Delegates at Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Therefore, Delegates entering from the East and West will be shown the resources of Queensland and West Australia and be entertained there ou their inward and homeward routes, special dates being fixed for that purpose. The visit to Tasmania is proposed to be made from Mel.
bourne.
arrangements as required by them and in con- nection therewith Ladies' Committees are to be formed to receive Ladios who accompany
Delegates.
The Congress has been prontised the active co-operation and assistance of all other bodies connected with the primary and and manufacturing interests in the various States of the Commonwealth.“
An invitation has since been received for a visit to the principal cities of New Zealand. which would mean leaving England ten days fe a fortnight earlier. The Committee have not been able to decide whether such a visit in possible, but would be glad of your views.
It may arided that since receipt of the foregoing. it has been ascertained that the principal steamship lines will be prepared to arrange return tickets to Sydney, via Suez and Colombo, for £100, giving separate facilities to Delegates who may desire to return by a different route. and the round the world ̈` ticket will be reduced to £120
It is perhaps, unnecessary for me to dwell apon the importance of this Congress being made a great success, and of the delegation! being Ax representative and influential possible. To this end it is very desirable that
the details, contained in this Circular should be laid before the Executives of all Chambers of Commerce of the Empire and communicated to Members, with a view to advising me as early as possible how many gentlemen and ladies are likely to attend from your locality. Copies may be had for this purpose on application to me Yours faithfully.
KENRIC B. MURRAY, Secretary The CHAIRMAN expressed the wish that the Chamber should be represented at the 7th Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, the Representative to be one of the Members of the Committee, if possible. The matter was left over for further consideration.
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363
ATTEMPTED OPIUM MONOPOLY AT CANTON.
Letter from Messrs. David Sassoon & Co., and other signatories :
Hongkong, 23rd September, 1908.
D. R. Law, Esq.,
Chairman, Hongkong Chamber of Commerce. SIR,We beg to submit herewith copy of a letter we have to-day addressed to Mr. Harry H. Fox. H. B. M's Consul General, Canton, in which we have protested against the proposed action of the Provincial Authorities of the Two Kwangs, which we submit, if carried into effect, Raw Opium in the Kwang Tang Province. will seriously restrict and hamper the sale of
We shall be glad if your Chamber will do all in its power to further our protest.
We have &c.,
DAVID SASSOON & Co. Ltd..-E. Shellim,
E. D. SASSOON & Co.,
E. PABANEY,
S. J. DAVID & Co...
PHIROZSHA B. Petit & Co.-
p.p. S. D. Setna,
TATA SONS & Co..p.p. B. D. Tata, CAWASJEE, PALANJEE & Co..
P. F. TALATI,
H. M. E. NEMAZEE. M. H. E. ELLIAS. ·
Enclosures.
Hongkong, September 23rd, 1908. Harry H. Fox, Esq...
H. B. M's Acting Consul General, Canton. SIB. We have the honour to bring to your notice translations of the following documents; copies of which are enclosed : ---
1. Notification dated Kwang Sui, 34th Year, 8th Moon, 9th Day" (4th September, 1908), purporting to be issued by the Provincial Judge, the Colonial Treasurer, the Pro- sident of the Re-Organization Board and Superintendent of Polion of the Province of Kwong Tung.
2. Form of Licence referred to in the Noti- fication proposed to be issued by the Two Kwong Tung Coast Defence and Reorganization Board to Native Shops authorising them to buy and sell by retail raw opium.
3. A Licence referred to in the Notification proposed to he issued by the same Board for smokers of opium authorising the par. chase by the individual mentioned in the Licence for foreigu and native opium from native shops.
The Notification states that the provisions contained therein will come in force and become operative on the 1st day of the 7th moon, (25tbh September. 1908). Under the circumstances iherefore, it would appear that no time should be lost in protesting against the action of the Provincial Authorities, which, for the reasons hereafter set forth, we contend is wholly illegal and contrary to Treaty.
The Notification provides that the local Authorities shall make :--
(1). Clear investigation into the number of shops selling and prepared opium in every city, town, village and hamlet.
(2) That the local authorities shall have
those shops registered.
(3) That the authorities shall then grant them licence for carrying on their businessA ie, of selling raw and prepared opium.
(4)
That after ascertainment and registration of the number of opium shops in the Pro- vince of the Two Kwangs, no new opium shops doing business in the baying and selling of raw and prepared opium may be established.
(5) All opium shops are to be licenced and the licence is to be renewable every year and any shop either buying or selling raw opium without having a licence is liable to be siezed and shut up.
(6) Individuals who wish to purchase raw opium must procure licences and produce them to the shop to enable them to purchase the raw opium from that shop. It is incumbent on that shop to see that the purchaser has a licence enabling him to purchase the specified amount and no other quantity than that specified in the licence. The purchaser has to hand over to the opium shop one copy of the licence on purchasing and retains the other himself. Purchasers without a licence are subject to arrest and punishment.
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