Any further communication should be escd to:-
ME ASSISTANT SECRETARY,
(MARINE DEPARTMENT),
And the following letter and number uld be quoted:~
*M. 26842/1911.
Telegraphic Address: OARD TRADE, MARINE,
LONDON.
о
1595-
JAN 12
Rece MARINE DERARTMENT,
7, WHITEHALL GARDENS,
LONDON, S.W.
15th January, 1912.
Sir,
I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, for the information of Mr Secretary Harcourt, the accompanying copy of a me: orandur prepared in this Department respecting the registry of mips owned by companies registered at Hong Kong out having their principal place of business in Buanquai or some other Chinese treaty port, and I am to state that the Board are now considering whetner any steps can be taken to enable bona fide British companies auswering to the above description to register their ships without run- ning the risk of the registry being declared illegal.
The Board understand that in some cases compan- ies carrying on business in the treaty porte have ap- plied to register their vessels at Hong Kong, and the Department would be glad to be informed how such appli- cations have been dealt with and whether any criterion has been established to assist the authorities in de- ciding in what cases companies may be allowed to regis- ter their ships under Section 1 (d) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
The Board also desire me to refer to the corres- pondence ending with your letter No.31606 of the 4th
1911 October last addressed to the Comptroller of the
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
Companies
eas