14
steamer the "Tigre." Several men were wounded, and one died subsequently of the injuries which he had received.
No parties except those belonging to the vessel were implicated in the disturbance, and the authorities might possibly have remained in ignorance of what had occurred had not two of the coloured men of the crew contrived to escape to shore by swimming, and give information at the police-office, where they reported that one of their comrades had been murdered on board the "Tigre;" upon which a warrant was issued, and a party of police proceeded on board that vessel, and, amidst the remonstrances of the officers, and, apparently, amidst much excitement and threats on the part of the crew, several arrests were made and the parties taken ashore, when an investigation took place in due course, but the prisoners were discharged for want of sufficient evidence being forthcoming to implicate them.
some
The French Consul, however, forwarded to the Governor of the Colony an official complaint against the police for attempting to board a French vessel, though the officer on duty had refused to allow them to board his vessel without an order from the French Consul, and he claimed exclusive jurisdiction over all persons implicated in the riot on board the French Messageries steamer "Tigre."
Case of the French Messageries steamer "Tigre" at Hong Kong.
The question was referred to the Law Officers, who December 23, 1868.
January 13, 1869. at first reported that if the "Tigre" was employed May 11, 1869. in the carriage of baggage only, she did not come within the scope of the Convention of 1856, but subsequently that, as she carried baggage and mails, she came within the Convention of 1856, and that the attempted arrest of a person on board by the Hong Kong police was illegal.
A question arose in Turkey in 1870 with regard
Colonial Office;
December 10, 1874.
Foreign Postal steamers at Constantinople. Dues.
to the Black Sea Salvage Service, when many of Sir H. Elliot, No. 27, Commercial;
March 15, 1870.
March 29, 1870.
Board of Trade;
the foreign Embassies at Constantinople claimed To Board of Trade; exemption from the dues on behalf of their postal steamers. A correspondence passed on the subject, which is noted in the margin.
In May 1872 a collision took place off Hong Kong between the French Messageries Maritimes' steam-ship "Ava" and the British steamer "Rona,"
March 31, 1870.
To Mr. Barron, No. 29;
April 7, 1870.
French Messageries steamer "Ava" at Hung Kong. Collision.
To Lord Lyons, No. 373;
July 27, 1872.
To Lord Lyons, No. 446; November 13, 1872.
+
Lord Lyons, No. 1052;
November 18, 1872.
To Lord Lyons, No. 446; November 13, 1872.
Lord Lyons, No. 1052;
November 18, 1872.
See Minute on draft to
Lord Lyons, No. 965; November 14, 1876.
15
in
of which the "Ava," although consequence bearing the mails, was detained for twelve hours by warrant of the Vice-Admiralty Court of the Colony, but subsequently released by order of the Court.
The Law Officers, to whom the question was referred, reported that, in their opinion, French vessels which were national or the property of the French Government, and vessels which were chartered or subsidized by the French Government, employed for the conveyance of correspondence between French and English ports, were within the Vth Article of the Postal Convention (of 1856), and might not on any account be diverted from their especial duty, or be liable to seizure, detention, embargo, or "arrêt de Prince."
Her Majesty's Government then expressed their regret at the circumstance of the arrest of the "Ava," and there the matter, so far, ended; but Lord Lyons was instructed to ask the French Government whether they did not consider that some rules might be established between the two Governments for dealing in future with similar
cases.
Such a proposal was therefore made to the French Government; but owing, probably, to the pressure of more important affairs at that moment, the matter was allowed to drop.
To Lord Lyons, No. 965; November 14, 1876.
In
18
it was alleged that the Assistant-Paymaster of Her Majesty's ship "Vigilant" (Mr. Cannon), then at Hong Kong, had absconded,
French mail-steamer "Sindh" at Hong Kong. after having been charged with embezzling public
Case of the French Messageries steamer 'Onadyr" at Hong Kong.
Count de Jarnae;
November 6, 1874.
moneys, and as he was supposed to be on board the French mail-steamer "Sindh," an application was made by the police authorities to the French Consul for permission to search the vessel; but the request was refused. The French Consul consequently reported that he had himself proceeded on board the "Sindh," accompanied by the Chancelier of the Consulate, who knew Mr. Cannon, and that they had searched the vessel without success, which report was deemed anything but satisfactory.
In December 1874 another case occurred at Hong Kong: the French Ambassador in London complained that the authorities at Hong Kong had
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