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upon discharge at Hong Kong were entitled to claim payment
to themselves of any wages due, and further that no Agreement
between the Master or Owner and seamen would relieve the
former of liability for any expenses properly incurred for
the latter as distressed seamen.
As to the repatriation of the Italians of the
*Inkula" I am to state that the Hong Kong Authorities had no
power under the Merchant Shipping Acts to require passages as
distressed seamen for these men to a port of their own,
or
any other foreign country, and that strictly they could only
have been returned to Italy as ordinary passengers.
The Board find however that the Harbour Master has
succeeded in returning several Italians to European ports as
distressed seamen,
Some of the men arrived in this country and the
Board.in view of the Agreement existing between the Govern-
ments of Great Britain and Italy for the mutual relief of
distressed seamen, have felt bound to forward them to Italy,
but whether or not payment of the expenses so incurred can be
obtained from the owner of the "Inkula" is doubtful.
The Board have no authority with respect to the
relief
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