COPY.
Sir,
Enclosure 2.
62
PP 10 FLB OF
FEB 0!
Hongkang General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 34th. October, 1900,
I have the honour to iaface you that, at
Monday's Meeting of the Jenaral Committee of this Chamber, the
following resolution was unanimously adopted:-
"That the 3overnment be approached by the Commit- "tee of the Chamber of Commerce with a view to the adop- "tion of a system of 'continuous record certificates' "for the masters and engineers of stean-launches holding " 'certificates of competency' from the Harbour Depart- "ment, such certificates to be a racord of service from "the time the certificates of competency were issued",
The need for more affective control over
these aen than is at present possessed by launch owners has been
gradually forced an their notice by the ease with which they sa-
cure fresh employment after discharge for misconduct or gross
carelessness, it being, under existing circumstances, a simple
matter to obtain a new post within a weak after discharge. If the
certificates issued to them were continuous, each lapse being duly racordad thereon and change of employment registered, some guarantee for their good conduct and efficiency would be provided.
Another consideration, and that of na lit-
The Honourable
tle importance, is the growing frequency of seizures af staaa- launches, for piratical purposes, and the consequent necessity
for
The Colonial Secretary.