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an explanation of his having been obliged.
convey
der
le England
a
sick seaman I
circumstances so precarious that their
desirable with
Endships consider inquiring with a view to determining and, if necessary, reforming the Practice at the Hospital and Port of Hong Kong with regard to sending diseased and distressed British Seamen.
glad of the opportunity
I
am
thus afforded for further explanation
because it is
very
desirable to keep the
general principle on which this Government should act clear of the complications and special circumstances of any
3.
The
one case.
valid statement of
exaggerated
the Master of the "Westin Chief," and the language of the Press here, naturally render
the Board of Trade wary and properly cautious to have all the circumstances
thoroughly sifted. I may say in reply
that this has long since been done by myself, and that whilst the principle of doing what is necessary
on adequate Medical testimony to rescue a sailor's
life in preference to consulting the
convenience of Ship Masters and Ship Owners, is a principle which I hope will not be abandoned, I have been
enabled at the same time to reform details
of the system previously existing here, particulars of which rendered the application of that principle occasionally
difficult and more open to objections
than is likely to be the case