Hongkong.
No.388.
C.C
41130
D
Government House,
Hongkong, 3rd November, 1904.
271
Enclosure 1. Enclosure 2.
Sir,
BoT 32576
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No.28 of the 8th September transmitting for my consideration and report a letter addressed by Mr. B. Murray, Carpenter in the S.S. "Scotia" to the Marine Department of the Board of Trade.
Mr. Murray's letter deals with two distinct subjects, the treatment he received at the hands of the Chief Officer while he was on board the S.S. "Scotia" and the manner in which he was dealt with by the Harbour Master and other officials in the Harbour Department when he came before the Marine Magistrate's Court. It is to the latter of these subjects that the enquiries which I have caused to be made have been directed.
I transmit for your information a copy of a report which has been furnished by the Deputy Shipping Master and a copy of the minutes of evidence taken by Captain Barnes-Lawrence when sitting as Marine Magistrate in this case, and I would supplement these documents by the following remarks, based on information furnished by Captain Barnes-Lawrence, on certain points in the account presented by Mr. Murray which require comment.
(1) Mr. Murray states in the course of his letter that "immediately on entering the office (i.e. the office of the Shipping Master) I was assailed by the Shipping Master in the most abusive manner &c". This allegation is dealt with
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.
&c.
&c.