1 hr. L. will have in hand
2
Work made in
Representations made in your
The publications of merchant shipmasters for
Ports.
Inch
In
CRL
SOCIATION
tions & C. P. GRYLLS, Secretary.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"GRYLLS." LIVERPOOL.
Sir,
TELEPHONE No. 690.
67, 68, 71 & 72, TOWER BUILDINGS,
WATER STREET,
LIVERPOOL.
REG 8 JAN 04
849
376
The Under Secretary of State
for the Colonies,
Colonial Office,
LONDON.
January 7th, 1904.
The attention of the Council of this Association has been directed to the fact that the important appointments of Harbour Master and Assistant Harbour Master at Hong Kong are likely to be under the consideration of the Colonial Office owing to the retirement of Commander Rumsey, R.N.
Knowing the vast extent of the Merchant Shipping visiting the port of Hong Kong, and realising the desirability of these appointments being filled by gentlemen who are qualified by experience in the handling of Ships and with a thorough knowledge of the various requirements of the Shipping trade, my Council trust that they may be allowed to suggest that such appointments would be most satisfactorily filled by Officers of the Mercantile Marine Service.
Without in any way reflecting upon the qualifications of Royal Naval Officers, many of whom are held in the highest respect by Merchant Seamen, my Council cannot but feel that gentlemen who are brought up in the Navy have not the training and experience necessary for dealing with the enormous tonnage of Merchant Ships visiting Hong Kong, or the knowledge of Shipping Law and Custom possessed by First-class Commanders in the Mercantile Marine.
They therefore earnestly hope that in considering