!
To
(Copy)
His Excellency
Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G.,
Governor, etc.
sir,
Hongkong 16th March 1917
35
On the 8th March I had the honour of submitting to Your Excellency, through the Honble the Colonial Secretary, copy of a letter which I, as the Managing director of the Cheong Yue Steamship Co.,Ltd., addressed to the Commodore requesting the release from requisitioning of the S.S."Devawongse". My company has since received from the Secretary to the Commodore a letter to the effect that its request could not be granted.
My fellow-directors and I are deeply disappointed at this decision, for we feel that we have not received equitable treatment. The grounds on which we based our application for the release of one of the ships are set forth in the letter addressed to the Commodore. I beg to be allowed to add certain remarks in amplication of the arguments already advanced, The two requisitioned steamers "Phranang" and the "Devawongse" which are by far the best
boats of the company and which constitute over 60 % of the tonnage of its fleet and 70 % of its earning power
were in 1915 mortgaged for B Bun of