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awards by Surveyors in India, and further East, contained reports, statements and opinions extraneous to the matter in dispute and request ed the assistance of this Chamber in confining the Survey Reports to the question or questions, specifically in dispute.
TREATIES BETWEEN UNITED KINGDOM AND GOVERNMENTS OF SERVIA AND BULGARIA,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
OBSERVATION STATION AP LAI-CHI-KOK,
[April 26, 1909.
likely to embaass Employers in the practical
working of the scheme.
The Committee strongly sympathised with the Volunteer movement and its Members were prepared to do all in their power to encourage volunteering among their employees.
MEMBERSHIP.
The Committee approached the Government with reference to Notification No. 853 published in the Government Gazette of 27th November, 1908, whereby the Owners or Agents of a Steamer concerned were required to pay not The Committee promised to use their in-only the cost of disinfection of the vessel, and fluence towards the exclusion of any pints but food for any passengers or crew landed at the The Membership of the Chamber for 1908 those specifically contained in the reference in quarantine station but also the cost of mainten-consisted of 22 individual Members and 120- cases brought to their notice.
ance of practically the entire staff of the Firms. During the year Messrs. Lauts, Establishment.
Wegener & Co., Lutgens, Eintsmann & Co., and Lai Hing Hong retired from business and Messrs. Rumjhan Co., China Traders' Insurance Co. Ltd., A. Ebrahim & Co., and Mr. E. C. Ray resigned. Mr. Wm Danby an old | Member of the Chamber, died. The following were elected to Membership:-Messrs, Wallem & Co.. Lowe & Bingham, Netherlands India Commercial Bank, Percy Smith & Seth, Geo. Grimble, F. I'. Talati and the Asiatic Petroleum Co., Ltd. The election of the two last named requires the confirmation of the Chamber.
The Committee upon having the Treaties between the United Kingdom and the Govern- ments of Servia and Bulgaria referred to them by the Government saw no objection to the proposed adherence of this Colony thereto.
SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION,
1909.
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The Committee asked the Government to review the terms of the regulations and request- ed the Government to consider the adoption of a similar procedure as obtained elsewhere.
The Government's reply is receiving the Committee's attention. |
UNITED STATES MONETARY COMMISSION,
A letter was received from Mr. Morton Further correspondence has been dealt with | Frewan dealing with the United States Mone- relative to the proposed International Exhibi-tary Commission sitting in Washington and tion to be held in Shanghai în 1909.
suggesting the attendance of a representative of the Hongkong Chamber,
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
The Chamber were invited by the Government to express an opinion on the question as to whether bogie or short trucks would be best adapted for use on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, The Committee advocated the use of large bogie trucks.
The Government eventually decided to order both bogio and short trucks.
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1906
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USINMINTUN-FAKUMEN KAILWAY.
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A letter was received from the Newchwang (hamber covering a copy of a resolution passed hy it as a protest against the steps taken by the Government of Japan to enforce the abandoment of the extension of the Imperial Railway of | North China from Hsimintun to Fakumen and beyond.
THE JAPANESE YARN LOTTERY,
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The Committee affered to join the Committen In a draft Bill to amend the local Merchant | of the Nowelwang Chamber in a joint Memorial | Shipping Ordinance the Government proposed | to be forwarded to the Doyen of the Diplomatic to omit the provision contained in the Imperial | Corps in Peking. Merchant Shipping Act 1908 that seamen may not be engaged on hoard British Ships unless The unfair trade methods adopted-by some↑ they possess a sufficient knowledge of English | Japanese Merchants in issing lottery tickets to understand the necessary orders that may hold the British firms engaged in the Yarn tra le given to them in the performance of their in Hongkong to approach the Chamber, duties,
His Excellency the Governor gave it as his opinion that such a regulation was not possible in Hongkong where 98 per cent of the seamen shipped are Chinese.
The Committee strongly endorsed His Ex cellency's views on the subject and believed that the inclusion of such a clause in the local Merchant Shipping Ordinance would practically compel the fleet of British Costing vessels engaged in the China trade to go out of commission.
TIME BALL AT KOWLOON,
Certain correspondence regarding the Cobur of the Time Ball at Kowloon has been dealt with.
LANDING OF GOODS EX STEAMERS.
In response to a query from the Imperial
German Consul the Committee stated that Shipowners were under no obligation to land and deliver goods unless specifically required to do so under the terms of the Bill of Lading,
REGISTER OF TRADE MARKS AT UITER
INDIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Upper India Chamber of Commercs supplied this Chamber with a copy of the rulos in connection with the register opened by them for the registration of trade marks and designs
HONGKONG AND KOWLOON WHARF AND
GODOWN COMPANY A'S ORDINANCE.
SZW
The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., Ltd. submitted to the Chamber a draft Ordinance (31-12-27) to authorise the making of By-laws. The Committen nothing objectionable in the Bill and did not propose too ppose it. UNIVERSAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIOX AT BRUSSELS 1910.
The Consul for Belgium notified the Chamber that a Universal and International Exhibition would be opened at Brussels in the month of April, 1910.
In response to a communication from the Government on the same subject, the Committer replied that unless the Government were pre- pared to find the funds the matter had better be allowed to drop.
THE PROPOSED CLOSING OF THE OPIUM
DIVANS.
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COMMITTEE.
In the early part of 1908 the Chamber lost the services of Mr. A. G. Wood on his retirement from business and departure for home. Mr. Wood has been closely associated with the Chamber for nine years, and the deep interest he always took in public and commercial affairs and the knowledge ho possessed of these rendered his services to the Chamber of great value.
The vacancy has since been filled by Mr. J. W. C. Bonnar.
The Hon. Mr. Henry Keswick and Mr. A. Fuchs having left the Colony their places were fif by the Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson and Mr. & Brodersen. The Committee very much regret the death of the latter gentleman which occurred at Shanghai. The vacancy thus caused has since been filled by the election of Mr. H. A. Sichs.
CHAMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The Committee requested the assistance of the London. Liverpool. Manchester, Bradford and Glasgow Chambers in seeking, through the usual diplomatic channels, the assistance of His The Colonial Secretary informed the Cham- Majesty's Government in the protection &fber on the 9th March, 1908, that His Excel- British Trade.
leuey the Governor had granted six months' leave of absence to the Hon. ir. E. A. Hewett and, therefore, requested the nomination of a temporary member of Council in his place.
Further action was rendered unnecessary by the Government requesting the Japanese Cansul to warn the Japanese firms that an issue of lottery tickets would constitute an infringeme t of the Gambling Ordinance.
REUTER'S POLITICAL TELEGRAMS. The Committee regret that, owing to the withdrawal of the Government's subscription of 1 500 per annum, the Chamber has been forced to discontinue the issuing of Reuter's Political Telegrams from 31st December. 1908.
LI YAU SAM czesne RUSSO CHINESE BANK.
The case of Li Yan Sam sas Russo-Chinese Bank appeared to require that some action should he taken by the foreign firms employing Com- pradores to ensure profection against the un- authorised nets of sueld Compradores.
The Committes took legal advice and drafted a proposed joint advertisement warning the public that certain signatures must be obtained from the signatories in their respective business efore any business transaction settled through the agency of their respective Compradores, or their staffs, would he recognised as binding.
Although well received the mavement was not unanimously supported, and the Committee. feeling that such artidu should be unanimous to he effective, did not provved further in the
matter.
CHINESE EMIGRATION ORDINANO 1889. This question has agrain been dealt with and further correspondence of a confidential naturp has passed between the Chamber and this Government.
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The Committee much regret, however, that the Secretary of State, is not in a position to re-open the question,
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER RESERVD ASSOCIATION.
A letter from Sir Henry Berkeley, the Chuig. man of the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve ssociation, was considered in which it was A resolution was passed by the Committee suggested that in order to strengthen the recording, their strong protest against any arbi- Volunteer Corps it might be feasible for the trary orders from the Imperial Government to Heads of Firms and Banking and other Com- close immediately the Opium Divans in Hong-panies when engaging ployees in England kong and promising to loyally support a policy to make it a condition of engagement that they of gradual reduction.
should join the local Volunteer Corps if This resolution was forwarded to the Govern- | required to do so by their Employers. ment who forwarded a copy to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the consideration of the Imperial Government.
The Chamber regretted that it could not see its way to recommend the adoption of the scheme in view of many difficulties which were
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A special general meeting of members waS had on the 17th March last at which Mr. Murray Stewart was unanimously elected. His Excellency the Governor afterwards signified his approval of the nomination.
The Chamber is very much indebted to Mr. Murray Stewart for the attention devoted to its interests during his term of office.
The Hon. Sir. E. A. Hewett on returning in October last resumed his seat on the Legislative Council.
FINANCES,
The expenditure for the yoar 1908 has ex- reoded the Income by $572.67 an increase of $266.12 as compared with 1907.
The Expenses show a small increases of $63.35. Receipts from Renter's Political Tele- grams, Members' Subscriptions and Interest, less increases in Market Report and Annual Leport sales of $18.98. account for a decrease of $202.77 of which the first named item is respon- sible for $146.42.
GENERAL.
The past year has been marked by a great increase in letters of trade enquiry from Europe, America and through the foreign Consuls, and the Committee regard this as a satisfactory indication of the increasing usefulness of the Chamber,
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THE ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual general meeting of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce was held in the City Hall on the 23rd inst. The Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett presided, and those present included Messrs. D R. Law, A. Babington, J.". W. C. Bonnar, J. W. Bandow, H, A. Siebs, E. Shellim, H. H. Tomkins (committee). E. A. M. Williams (secretary). A. S. D. Cousland, C. Woldering, F. Pagett Hett, H. P. White, C. G. Gok, J. Owen Hughes, C. H. Ross, S. D. Setna E. G. Barrett, F. C. Mow Fung. V. Bosch. W. S. Bailey. J. Silverstone, C. S. Gabbay and S. H. Michael.
The SECRETARY read the -notice calling the meeting.
The
The CHAIRMAN said.- Gentlemen, report and accounts having been in your hands
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