CONFIDENTIAL.
Hongkong.
My Lord,
Government House,
Hongkong, 14th November, 1906.
With reference to Your Lordship's Confidential Despatch of the 28th of September last, forwarding a copy of a letter and its enclosure from the Marine Department of the Board of Trade regarding allegations affecting the Shipping Master at Hongkong, I have the honour to state that this matter was referred to the Harbour Master for investigation and that he reports that, having gone fully into the allegations, he finds that the Shipping Master, Mr. A. P. Guterres, has been, and always is, particular in having the Master of a Ship, paying off a crew, present, and in paying off the crew in full there and then. The Harbour Master adds that, in view of the varied sources of information at his disposal and of the nationality of the Shipping Master, he would almost certainly have been informed if any irregularities had existed.
2. As far back as June, 1905, an anonymous...
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE EARL OF ELGIN, K.G.,
&c. &c.