Any further communication should be addressed to:-
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, (MARINE DEPARTMENT),
And the following letter and number should be quoted :—
M
28210
Telegraphic Address,
BOARD TRADE, MARINE,
LONDON.
Zerbs
1 D
87
46050
MARINE DEPARTMENT,
7, WHITEHALL GARDENS,
LONDON, S.W.
17th December, 1908.
Sir,
I am directed by the Board of Trade to state for the information of the Earl of Crewe that their attention has been called to several cases in which a Chinese cook coming up for engagement on a British merchant vessel has been unable to produce proof of the qualifications required by Section 27 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, but has stated that his discharge certificates shewing the sea service prescribed by the section have been left behind at Hong Kong.
The Board will be glad if you will move Lord Crewe to be so good as to ascertain from the Hong Kong Government whether it is a common practice for Chinese seamen to leave their discharge certificates behind when proceeding to sea.
If this is the case, I am to suggest that Chinese cooks engaged on vessels likely to come to the United Kingdom or to a port on the Continent of Europe within Home Trade limits should be advised to take their discharge certificates with them so that no question may arise under Section 27 as to their qualifications.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
S. W.