Chairman Discusses Title Deeds and Mortgages: Views Sino-Japanese Relations Hopefully Frost Arn Owx London, Apr. 10.
'The annual meeting of the China Association was held on April 7, at the offices of the P.-& _O. Steam Navigation Ca. in Leadenhall' Street. The Rt Hon. Earl Winterton, M. was elected as president of the Association for the coming year. The chairman lected was Mr. G. W. Swire, while Mr. A. W. Burkill was elected vice-chairmen and Mr. D.G.M. Bernard hon. treas.
The following members were elected to the committee for the coming year: Messrs O. J. Barnes, Buchan, A. H. Ferguson, G. E. Hubbard, W. B. Kennett, A. 0, Lanz. S.P. Leigh, H, W. Looker, Licut-Gen, Sir George Mardonouh, Messrs. C.G. Mackie, H. A. J. Macray, A. Rose, C. V. Sale, Sir Thomas Stranf man, Brig-Gen, C. R. Woodroffe and Mr, M. Wolfers.
The accounts for the year show] that the total assets of the Company. at. the present me, including 20 Bonds of Japanese Loan, amount to £1367. 0. 7d.
The Chairman having dealt with the "accounts, amplified some of the! subjects summarized in the report, dwelling in particular upon Shanghai Mortgages and Title Deeds Referring to the new form of Title Deed used by the land De-Partment of the Shanghai Municipal-he said that the language of this new form which is issued upon transfer of land held under a Consular title deed, creates. the apprehension that a claim might be put forward for an Increased ground rent contrary to the terms on which the and had previously been held, name~ ly, the payment of a small fixed ground rent, As regards the Chinese law of mortgage and its administration he explained that a power of sale upon default by the borrower without, the Intervention of the Court, which is Implied in a morgiage in this country, fg. unknown in Chinese law. In China, in order to realize his security, the mortgagee is compelled to fle 3 sult and obtain a sale through the Court. This procedure he explained Involved considerable delay, which Is aggravated on the one hand by an. Unrestrained Fight of appeal to. two. higher courts. in turn. even if the: sult fs originally undefended, and on the other by. the reluctance of the' Court of first instance to pass order for sale. When a mortgagee! takes proceedings to enforce his. security the Court is apt, in a wholly arbitrary manner, to reduce the rent payable by tenants sometimes with Fetrospective effect.
Sir Andrew Caldecott's Transfer Atlee referring to the Chinese Government's income tax law, monopolies, trade marks and insurance, the Chairman "A subject of a different nature mentioned in the Report, namely. the transfer of Sir Andrew Caldecolt from Hongkong, ought T think, to be specially commented. upon.
Sir Andrew has been in Hongkong considerably less than two years, just time enough in fact to make himself acquainted with its manifold problems. He had done this manner which won the admiration and confidence of all, including the Canton Government, "relations with which are obviously' of great importance to the Colony. Yet no sooner had he got well into his stride than was" transferred. The Colony greatly regretted this and appealed fo the Colonial Ofice to reconsider their decision but without success In making this appeal they hod our entire support, for we think, as they do, that tansfors of this kind are both discouraging and disconcerting. Although regrelling Sir Andrew's departure from Hongkong, we congratulate him on being appointed to 4 larger Colony.
In this connection 1 should ike to saya word too about the good work done by Mr. Phillips as Consul General in Canton. "The Colony' distress: st losing Sir Andrew was made an the greater by this simultaneous transfer. Mfr. Phillips, however, has been a Jong time in Canton. He is going to Shanghai, moreover to replace Sir John Brenan who is} coming home {0 take up an appoint ment at the Foreign Office. We feel that in Mr. Phillips the Foreign Office have made an excellent appointment, Association "Political events during the past year are surveyed fully by the report, The space given to Japanese affairs shows that Association endeavours 10. Keep itself informed regarding conditions in that country. We do this, both' because China's development and progress must to no small extent depend upon the action of her most! necessarily governed to a large extent by conditions at home and because, as an Association, we fare closely connected with the Bri-sh Association of Japan; some of four_members have important inter-cals in Japan, and when our Axsolation was established in 1889 two Of itx objects were defined in thee terms:— the "opinion ie in the sri the, rae Klnedom, "india and mand In" China,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.