Sir,
ENCLOSURE
Harbour Department,
Hongkong, 11th May, 1901.
I have the honour to inform you that the Master of the British S.S. "Loongsang" reports that the British Vice Consul at Manila made him take two British seamen from that port and bring them here without providing him with any "conveyance order" as provided for in the Board of Trade Instructions.
Men thus irregularly sent here cannot be treated by me as Distressed British Seamen, hence they become a charge on the Colony, as it does not seem just to throw the charges for maintenance on the Master of the ship, under the Vagrancy Ordinance, seeing that he has to obey the orders of the Vice Consul.
I therefore beg to suggest that the Vice Consul be communicated with, with a view of putting a stop to such irregularities, more especially as this is not the first occasion on which he has saddled the Colony with such people.
I enclose an open letter handed by the Vice Consul to the Master of the "Loongsang".
I have &c.,
THE HONOURABLE
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
(sd.) Basil Taylor,
Acting Harbour Master.