600
Naval Commander-in-Chief
In China Station for twelve. mouths, I have no direct knowledge
corporate
of
the existence of such a association as the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, as neither
the Chairman or Committee of that
body have so far had the courtesy to call upon me, or in any way to endeavour to establishe the relations which it is right. proper should exist between the mercantile community and the
Naval Commander-in-Chief.
this
I
arr
fach by
now made
the letter of
aware of their Secretary upon which I have found it necessary. to comment.
The rise which the Committee desire to lay down is
that it is the
-duty of the Naval
Authorities to unhesitatingly comply
with
with the requisition of any ircpion.
sible person who
may
think proper
despatch of
one of ter
War to
any park
request the Majesty's Ships of
of
the China seas to make search for
an overdue skamer, without any reference to the circumstances
of the case or to the utility of such search.
Such is not
ov
any
view
my
for senior officer present
210
while I
at a port, would wait for
uisition whatever inn immediately
the relief of any
regi
taking
measures
vessel
of
distress in
for
whatever nationality in
any known position where it might be possible to render
assistance ni
saving life, I hold it to be the duty of the representa. Lives of
a Chamber of Commerce,
where such a
body exists in one of
Ever Mapsty; Colonies, to make proper
representation to the Naval Authori.
pril
ties