'The manager of a well-known Chinese dispensary in the Settlement and a former committeeman of the present Chamber were mentioned as organizers of the new Chamber group and it was openly suggested in the' Chinese press that the kidnapping of 'a merchant named Hsieh Tsu-kwang. in Connaught Road on Monday night was simply a ruse. The kidnappers carried no guns and Hsieh's body guard was not armed either. Tt was hinted that the kidnapping might be a device to save Hsich's face, as his ame was associated with the new Chamber group.
There were indications in Chinese circles jhere yesterday that after establishing a branch of its central bank in Shanghai, it would be logical for Nanking to take over the Chinese Chamber of Commerce here, which has been taking orders from Chung: king. Mr. Wang Siao-lai, a commanding gute in the Settlement during the pre-war' days who is now in Hongkong, is sti Chairman the Chinese chamber here and also of the Chinese Ratepayers Associa: tion in the Settlement. Chungking has ordered that there should ben Feorganization of such public bodies during the hostilities, There was a Chinese Chamber up organized by the late Mayor Siao-en, ut it was learned yester ay that its members have not been active and in fact it was suggested, by one Chinese source that it might have been absorbed by the Nanking! group. The present Chamber here: has been issuing certificates to merchants transporting goods to Chungkingreontrolied districts for sale, to help the Government in boycotting the Japanese of semi-Japanese. goods made in Shanghai and its vicinity. It was stated yesterday by the same sources that Chungking would not recognize certificates issued by any other group.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.