"The formation of British Chambers of Commerce in China, and their union last year in the Association of British Chambers of Commerce in China and Hongkong, has been followed with the closest interest by His Majesty's Government. The work and influence of ithe Chambers, both individually and collectively, cannot fail to ye of the highest value to British manufacturing and mercantile interests and to British interests generally, and in the opinion of His Majesty's Government a continuance of united and combined effort is essential if our commercial position is to be maintained.
"T am accordingly desired by His, Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to express to the Representatives of the Commercial Communities in China the earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that ce-operation ini-' tinted with such success last year will be zealously developed. His Majesty's Government looks with confidence to all British Merchants and Manufacturers' Representatives in China to lend continued and wholehearted support to the Chambers of Commerce and to do everything in their power to advance a movement which is vitally necessary as much in imperial interests as in their own."
Tue Past Year's Work.
I think that the work done during the past year, culminating has in this second assembly, justifies the view which His Majesty's Government has taken. I will take some of the concrete results of that work first. The resolution passed last year on Currency Reform has borne good fruit. The Chinese have moved in the matter of establishing a Mint in Shanghai; they are in negotiation for if not] already bought a site and for materials, and they are believed to be much more inclined to consider favourably the question of foreign supervision than they were. As the result of another resolution passed. last year, the Chinese have also made a move in the matter of Likin. On a question so intricate as this one is, so much bound up with finance, we cannot expect rapid progress. As long as we have evidence that there has been some progress and that that progress is due to the Association's efforts, we can be content. Some months: ago the Chinese held meetings in various parts of the country and of these Sir John Jordan reported to the Foreign Office on February 27 this year—and I now quote from his despatch—that they were the first serious attempt on the part of the Chinese Government to meet the views both of foreign importers and the Chinese Provinces in regard to unified taxation.
Then there is the question of Trade Marks.
As you all know the!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.