Hong Kong in explaining to my Lords the accounts are rendered by the Colonial Treasurer "there is no Shipping Master in the Colony and that the "accounts are rendered by the Colonial Treasurer and transmitted from his (the Colonial Secretary's) "Office, because all payments on 'account of British Seamen are "made from the Treasury on "production by the Harbour Master "of proper and authorized vouchers.
As the only difficulty in the way of rendering the accounts by the Harbour Master direct to this Department appears to lie in the fact that the Harbour Master has no funds in hand My Lords would suggest for the consideration of the Duke of Newcastle whether it would not be as well that the same powers conferred on the Shipping Master should be given to the Harbour Master, or that a Shipping Master should be appointed in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act whereby all impediments effecting the object so desirable as the speedy settlement of matters connected with the estates of deceased seamen would be removed.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,