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not appear from the correspondence that mich reliance can be placed on these passes under the conditions obtaining at present at these ports.
5. Although Hong Kong and Singapore are both free ports in peace time and therefore without a regular Customs 'Service, there appears to be some sort of machinery for controlling the shipments that leave these ports and carrying out the various prohibitions and agreements at present in force. It should therefore not be impossible to oo-operate with the Naval Authorities in this matter.
6. The difficulties pointed out by the Master Attendant at Singapore applied with greater force to Port Said, both as a transit port and as a port where quick despatch is necessary, and the same objections were raised here.
These were however overcome by appointing an experienced R.N.R. Officer as Naval Examining Officer and informing the shipping agents that no vessel would be allowed to clear the port until all papers relating to her cargo had been submitted to him and a Naval Clearance issued.
It was previously the custom at Port Said, as at
Singapore now, to supply captains with rough drafts of the
manifests only, but shipping companies soon found that it
was not impossible to produce the ships' papers without
delaying the ship.
7. A copy of this letter has been sent to the Admiralty.
I have the honour to be,
(signed)
Sir.
Your obedient servant,
R. H. PEIRSE.
Vice Admiral. Naval Commander-in-Chief, East Indies
and Egypt.
ון
A.