42
for permission to ship is quite distinct
in principle from the usual shipping fee in return for which the Shipping
officer performs
the same distinct service to
and the ship. The latter
fee would of course remain if the
Permit fee were abolished and would
be paid by Foreign Ships to the Consuls
and by British Ship's to the Colonial
Shipping
Master, as in
all
other ports
in the British Possessions abroad.
In conclusion, I am to state that
the system of permits at Hong Kong appears
to be so exceptional and open to objection
as to require
some more
specific
justification