A Study On The Hangzhou Chamber Of Commerce(1945-1949)

In modern Chinese history, the chamber of commerce is one of the hottest objects. Hangzhou chamber of commerce (HCC)(from1945to1949) is valuable to study, whether for the period or object. It is the main point that chamber of commerce to the businessman is a kind of institutionalized shelter. This paper is composed of two parts. One is the organization of HCC. The other is the activity of HCC.Organization of HCC The organization of HCC followed a double-constitute principle. The first was laws and regulations. The second was economic strength and political prestige. This paper studies the first principle from structure, member and fund. Member Congress which was made up of businessmen, elected the Council and Board of Supervisors. Council was responsible for the daily work of HCC, assisted by six different departments. Board of Supervisor was responsible for supervising the work of the Council. The members of Council and Board of Supervisor were elected from members of Congress. The main income was member fee, while the main expense was staff salary and wage. During hyperinflation, the fund of HCC was often imbalances which made it difficult to operate. Then studies the second principle, founding the economic strength was explicit, but the political prestige was implicit.The activity of HCC HCC sheltered businessman in economic, political and social flied. By the space between national policies and regional articles, HCC protected businessman from exorbitant taxes and levies. In the name of patriotism, HCC actively promoted domestic products. As its’position, HCC helped them keep the market, but secretly rescued the businessman who was suppressed by the political movement. Because of its’fair stand and sophisticated skills, HCC did the commercial disputes to shield businessman against judicial entanglement. Without the stable political stand, HCC’s stand was totally based on businessman being thirst on ordered and fear of disorder. In the light of businessmen’s attitude, HCC was nice to the police but cold to military. After war, HCC urged the public understanding what businessmen did during wartime. In view of government alerted to the labor, HCC successfully helped the capitalist against the labor. As traditional, HCC took the responsibility for firefighting to protect lives and properties.