Hongkong, May 10.
Hongkong is to maintain its status] as a free port and does not wish to be affected by the recent announcement in the House of Commons that certain British Crown Colonies will apply quotas with regard to the Import of Japanese goods, according toa statement of Mr. George Clinton Pelham, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in Hongkong.
He explained that only British colonies in West Africa will introduce quotas to. protect themselves; against dumping of Japanese products and that Hongkong will remain port where all goods are free from duty. This is based on the fact that this Colony. is merely a port of entry for foreign goods and does not consume them.
Its pointed out that, if Japanese goods are deemed undesirable, it Behoves the ultimate consumer in Kuangtung to ban such goods. Hon kong is merely a big warehouse, and Wf Japanese goods were restricted here, business activities would be curtailed, according to one view.
Nevertheless, many merchants hold the view that Hongkong is also a consuming centre and does use considerable Japanese goods, such as cotton, fruit, cement. silk and even hardware. British firms are feeling' the'pinch' of Japanese competition, now that the boycott in South China practically over.
Chinese business men are very anxious to do more business in spite of a general "slacking in trade, Mr. Huang Kwang-tien, Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to call a big meeting of merchants all lines of business at the end of the month, in order to discuss ways. and means to improve trade.
Proposals and agenda for the coming conference are being prepared, and every channel is to be explored with a view to bring back prosperity. These optimistic traders take the position that South China is peaceful and that Hongkong has many facilities for trade. If merchants can. unite a way may be found to lead to better trade returns.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.