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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETE, ECEMBER 11, 1931,
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(b) A request was received from Kwong Hip Lung to tow some lighters
from West Point to Yaumati. As by then the "Kau Sing
had pro- ceeded to the Eastern end of the harbour it was explained to his repre- sentative that the craft in the west having had their opportunity to be towed to safety it would be unfair recall the "Kau Sing" from the East and so deprive any craft in the East, who might be in need of assistance, of their opportunity to accept towage. This request was not passed to "Kau Sing".
(c) A report was received that some lighters belonging to Butterfield and Swire were in trouble to the westward. As the "Kau Sing" had already proceeded to the East this report was not passed to the "Kau Sing" for the same reason as set forth in 3 (b).
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(d) A report was received from the Green Island Cement Co. that some lighters were in distress off Hok Yuen (Kowloon Bay). This message was passed to Kau Sing". On arrival at Hok Yuen owing to bad weather conditions the Master decided that it would be an undue risk to take the Kau Sing" in to the lighters, a decision with which the Harbour Master concurs.
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(e) A report was received that a junk was sinking inside Kellett Island. This message was passed to Kau Sing". On arrival off Kellett Island no sign of such junk could be seen. The Master did not search inside
Kellett Island as there was insufficient water for the safe navigation of the "Kau Sing".
Messages were passed to the "Kau Sing" as stated above.
Record of action taken is contained in the log.
Copies of both the Deck Log and Wireless Telegraph Log are pro- duced.
4. A large number of junks and cargo boats estimated at about 100 were lying alongside the praya and wharves. Each group was offered towage.
Some craft declined others ignored the offer.
No record was kept. An order has now been issued that such a record shall be kept in future.
5. The "Kau Sing" due to weather conditions was anchored in Kowloon Bay at 3 p.m. At 4.50 p.m. anchor was weighed but at 5.10 p.m. the "Kau Sing" proving unmanageable at low speeds anchor was again dropped and "Kau Sing" remained at anchor until 6 p.m. when the weather moderating she again got under way.
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Most of the craft sunk or broken up against the praya wall met their fate between the piers to the west of the Harbour Office between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. Had the Kau Sing' been present off these piers she would have been unable to go in to these craft as she would have been running a grave risk of becoming herself a casualty against the praya wall.
6. On September 3rd whilst the "Kau Sing" was being employed carrying out the Gap Rock Lighthouse relief a report was received that some fishing junks had been wrecked on the Lema Islands in Chinese Terri- tory. Owing to a temporary defect in "Kau Sing's" wireless telegraph it was found impossible to get a message through to her and the Naval Authorities very kindly detailed H.M.S. "Stormcloud" to investigate. Acting on a report received from the "Stormcloud" by the Naval Authorities the Harbour Master sent out the "Kau Sing" on the morn- ing of September 4th to carry out a thorough search. The "Kau Sing arrived back in the evening having rescued 19 persons.
No report has been received of any casualty having occurred on Lamma Island.