1897 - The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

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The ,roll of members has been still further increased, five new members
lJaving joined since last meeting, and their elac tion will require confirmation
at this meeting. On the other hand the Chamber has lost two members.
A further improvement is apparent, I am glad to say, in the finances
of the Chamber. We have now a sum of $4,000 on fixed deposit, and have
carried forward a credit balance of $1,4'73.62. Under these circumstances
and, seeing that the work of the Chamber is steadily increasing, yout·
Committee, at the commencement of the current year, considered that
they were justified in making a long ueeded improvement in the salaries
of the Secretary and clerk. (Applause.) I should like her o to acknowledge
the able services of our Secretnry, whose time is now more called
upon by the increased duties, and who by giving that time is able to get
the business of the Chamber more promptly attended to. (Applause.)
I think, gentlemen, I have now t ouched u pon all questions c~:~,lling for
special observations from me, and have purposely refrained from alluding
to tbe political situation, which is somewhat involved.
Before proposing
the adoption of the report and the accounts, the qom mittee will be glad to
listen to any discussion on the various matters that have been dealt with, or
to hear any views on other subjects which members may wish to present.
(Applause.)
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP-Mr. Chairman and gentlemen.
On former
oc~n s ions tl.t these annua,l m eetings I ho.ve 'lmd plen.sure in refet•ring to the
clear, succinct, and vigorous reports which the Committee has presented to
us. The present is no exception to the rule. The C'ommittee has been
vigilant, assiduous, and devoted, and our Secretary has shown himself just
ns good·at writing letters as he did erstwhile in writing leaders. ( Hear, hear,
and applause.)
There is in the opening paragr!'.ph of·the report., which I will
confine the few remarks I make to, n. passage which ht\S attracted my
·n.ttenbion. In referring to the relief wuich the shipping has experienced by
direction of the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Co l oni ~s ,
paragraph closes thus:-" Bea}'ing in mind, however, that the princrple of
having resort to 'light dues' for put·poses of geneml revenue in any case of
urgent necessity lJ as been endorsed by the Secretary of Stn.te, it will Le
necessary for this Chamber to keep a wa!chful eye on this question in the
future." I turn over to fiud out \vhat the Secretary of State had said·, and
I find that in the lust pam graph of his letter ·lJe writes thus :- " I desire to
add that if at any time hereafter urgent necessity shouh1 arise fot· increasing
the genera.! rcvenne I should be prepared to consider a.ny proposal for again
the
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raising the ' shipping dues,' as I have no reason to think that the present
charge has borne very hMdly on the shipping interests." T his was dated
the I '7th of March, 1897, and I believe is the only expression we have fro:n
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN upon the subject. H e does not refer to t he dutl' arisino-
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from light dues. H e spe:tks of" shipping d ues," and there I think t he
gt·cat difficulty of apprehending the matter has arisen.
Tuis sbippiug
"light" has been ftmned and ventilt\ted until it has shone so br ightly that
it has dazzled and perplexed those who have tried t o examine into the
question, and I am sony that the term has been used, because I lace f_9r t.ho centt·alisation of our troops.
I cannot believe that this memot·ial of tlJe shipping chss was intended as
a. rual and boncl. fide complaint agaiust t hd Ievyiu g of two aud a ln lf cent;;
per ton.
I believe iL was a protest on t heir part against Lhe-if I may use
the word-- ext.t·avaga.n ce wlJich h11.s ebamcteriscd some departments of the
Govemmen t. in the past antl the fo.)ar on theit· p:wt that if this two anll a
half cents W