Sir,
No. 8.
72
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 16th. March, 1905.
I have the honour to acknowledge the re-
-ceipt of your letter of the 20th. ultimo intimating His Excel-
-lency the Governor's instructions that the Filots' examina-
-tions will be simplified and the limit on licences removed.
In reply I am directed to express to you
the thanks of my Committee for the ready manner in which the
Government have met the wishes of the shipping community made
through the Chamber.
With reference to the statement in my
letter to you of the 17th. ultimo that "it was understood that
in one or two cases at least Chinese piicts who have passed the
examination have not been granted licences, the vacancies being
filled by Europeans subsequently examined", I am now given to
understand that this was incorrect, although the source from
which this information was obtained was thought at the time to
be reliable. I am therefore to express the regret of the Com-
-mittee of this Chamber that such a misstatement of fact should
have been made thereby indirectly drawing public attention to
supposed irregularities in the Harbour Master's Department.
I have etc.,
Hon. H. A. May, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
(sd.) A. R. Lowe,
Secretary.