In ce-operation with other Chambers of Commerce and working through the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce the congestion has been somewhat relieved on the landing) pontoon. The ferry kiosks have been moved away and police regulations enforced which avoid the previous congestion of launches and tenders. The situation is now somewhat confused owing to the building Jof the new inspection shed for the} Custom House. When this is finish-fed the congestion on the pontoon iN be greatly relieved.
Customs Tariff Conference, Peking Through ce-operating with the American Commercial Attaché's office and through the kindness of} Mr. G. C. Howard the Chamber enabled to distribute advance, insrmation to the membership regarding proposed duties under the new tariff.
It has been proposed to give China tariff autonomy on January 1, 1929, which time new import duties would go into effect. If agreed to there duties will run greatly in excess of the present duties or anything authorized under the Washington Conference, which allowed an increase of from five per cent. to seven and a half per cent. over the present tive per cent. ad valorem import duties.
In the interim between now and January J, 1929, it is proposed to} enforce a new scale of duties in exjcess of the present duties and running as high as 20 per cent. on some items. Before these duties) Jean be enforced, however, they must Ihe agreed to by treaty by the:
noys Powers concerned.
The chamber has been at the Jservice of its membership in doing everything possible to transmit protests to the proper authorities in inz and in this connexion great ly appreciates the hearty co-opera tion and service rendered by both the Department of Commerce and the Department of State.
As an example of what can be done along these lines the American porting indigo into China, item of importation and on which it is proposed to levy higher duty, the chamber was i strumental, at the request of the} American firms importing indigo, in Japproaching the indigo importers [three other nationalities through [their respective Chambers of Commerce with the result that a joi inst the higher duty on went to Peking signed by the importers of four different countries.
This in brief, gentlemen, completes report of the work of the chamber. It does not include the great number of inquiries that are an-owered by the office of the chamber, or the many services rendered, which "we believe the membership fully appreciateg judging from. the added. <interest that.has.. beea manifested: of late.
Tniconclading T wish to stress, e Vitel "importance "of ce-operation among the American business men of this community. The chamber is organized to protect and fester [your interests and can only attain those results which you at individalg are willing to attain, The [Chamber of Commerce for the com-year will be exactly what you make it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.