Before closing my remarks, Ladies and Gentlemen, I should like to render a tribute to Messrs. Palmer' Turner, the architects of the building, and to congratulate them upon the excellence of the design, guests of distinction and eminence. honour to represent: the Minister of Finance and the Tapan of Shui Wu Abu "to extend to you our hearty welcome and say a few words about the commercial development and the future prospects of Shanghai in consequence of the completion this new building. As the tories! survey and the preset situation of the Maritime Customs sargo elon ft Satelite Shay centre of the largest country in Customs, Mr. Maze, I deem ced od ary fic Coonan a Asia. I trust that Customs work better not to attempt to tire you gill continue in the future, as in with unnecessary repetition, the past, to be useful to China and A Deeper Harbour Needed to general public interest; and that the reputation of the Service will be But, being entrusted with the maintained. I have now. much duty of Superintendent I shoul rents. itis my collengan Bho" Superintendent to ly the stone, hat a one ofthe Targest seaports like'to offer my viewpoint, Shang the Far East, #0 the Customs ques-Laying the Stone tion is of great importance, But The speech was then translated still believe it has not yet reached into Chinese by Me, Yang, of the i fullest attainment: this 1s dug Bureau of Fore to the fact that our harbour is not deep enough and has not been eign Affairs. equipped with all modern facili-After this Mr. ties.
Chu Vu-chi_ wae Four years ago, as stated by presented with Mr. Maze, the Commission of Ex-silver trowel with perts submitted a report that the which ho tanda ied "of mortar very. great advantage "Trond river can further be deepened to ind, the founda: this project. will soon be ized. And the means of traneportation can still be bettered constructing a high suspension bridge or an efficient ferry con~ necting Pootung and Shanghat. the result of this trade and eventually a big more wonderful city, Of course, the receipts of the Maritime Customs will be correspondingly creased as well.
However, the success of its being carried out depends upon the assistance and the ce-operation of the business interests.in Shanghai as well as the efforts of the Govern ment, Therefore, I wish to express coming soon.
In concluding my speech, permit me to convey to you our gratitude for your presence and your participation, The Health of the Guests Mr, Maze then proposed the health of the guests, saying:—The Superintendent and I am very glad to have the opportunity of meeting so many distinguished guests to-day, including so many leading El the Consular Body of ind the ex-Danish Minivier, Mr. Olesen, our former colleague, and we welcome to each and all, to invite my colleagues to join with us in drinking the health of the guests, coupled with the names of the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs and the Senior Consul.
Mr. Hsu Yuan Replies The Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hsu Yuan, speaking first in Ohinese, then in English, replied as follows:— idea uikiie wails China, Provide itis in necessary ner ere cele mea-to Committee into tion stone way then duly lowered On behalf of the Chinese guests of eminent engineers was invited position with a level Mr. Chu Mr. Chu and Mr. Maze for their its beds After testing its present here to-day T wish to thank vat established here some 65 years other words, the facilities of the requirements of the port, and ce the Maritime Customs was] Well ax for expanding business. In, in 1921 to investigate the future said Ladies and Gentlemen, I have occasion of laying the corner-stone ind invitation on this. memorable ago great changes have taken place port should keep pace with modern comprehensive scheme was drawn] the great pleasure to be here this|of the New Customs House, and our sincere hope th the and Shanghai has since developed nto one of the best known and most celebrated cities in the world, snd has become the largest em: torium of trade in the Far East. Te is the natural distributing centro for the commerce of the basin of the Yangtze comprising some 750,000 square miles, with a population of re the world's inbabliants,—and. with such an extensive and rich hinter-{and it follows that, given safe and improved communications, there future prosperity of Shanghai as the leading port on the Chinese sea-board.
In no other part of the globe does such ® region so densely populated depend for its ¢ intercourse upon one distributing port. The annual value of its trade has increased from some Hk. His. 75,- 000,000 to close upon Hk. Tis colle has risen from about Hk. 1,200,000,000, while the revenue
Tls. 2,000,000 to over Tis." 27,000,- 000 or about one-third of the total Maritime Customs revenue of China. of Shanghai during the same period arning to shipping, the progress is even. more remarkable, In. the our gene the annual tonnage considerably less than 1,000,000 by the Customs "was tons, while last. wr the tonnage Fequirements and the approaches to, up for the development of the har-Shanghai should be further deepen- hour on the most modern lines, It ed, better wharfage and other public is to be hoped that the recommenda. harbour utilities should be intro- tions of this Committee will bear morning in the participation of the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of this new building. I deeply appreciate the presence of so many AM
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.