1.
6 Copy 6740
541
C. O.
promo, by Solicitor to fix of 28900
Space
HOITO OTG.
Rece
The principle of allowing persons who are not quali- fied under Section 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to own British ships to have their ships placed on a Colonial Register has been conceded in the past by the ordinances of this Colony but it is stated that such registration is likely to have a more extended operation owing to the reduction of expenses and the relaxation of the requirements as to certificated officers and it is proposed by Sub-soc.9 of Sec.3 of the Ordinance No.36 of 1899 that the British flag may be used on board any such ship but in view of the possibly more extended opera- tion of this right of registration it becomes important to consider whether any complications are likely to arise if the number of ships so registered becomes large for there are no limits put ooyages of such ships to China, and I cannot help feeling that the waters round
China are likely in the present condition of affairs to become a fruitful ground for international complications.
4. (2) I do not think that the criticism as to
river steamers need be insisted upon but as Sec.10 (12)
meations river steamers in addition to British Colonial
and foreign ships exceeding 60 tons, it seems as if such
steamers should have been specifically mentioned in 4
(2). Otherwise it would seem to be superfluous to refer
to river steamers in Section 10 (14) and if the special
Licenses provided in Section 30 are practically com-
pulsory the provisions of Section 10, so far as they
relate
N