SAI
Hegrams —" SHIPMINDER, VIC, LONDON."
Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to
The Secretary,
Ministry of Shipping,
St. James's Park,
London, S W.,
and the following number quoted.
T. 379/17
143
MINISTRY OF SHIPPING,
O
13820
14th March, 1917.
15 MAR 17
MO
Sir,
You
lith reference to your letter No. 6578 of 19th February, I am directed by the Shipping Controller to refer to the letter from this Department of 13th March with regard
11720 to the position of the steamers now building for the Nor-
AT
8699,
MO
rb
wegian Flag at the yard of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company at Hong Kong.
Should it ultimately be decided that the Norwegian ships are to be time-chartered to a British firm as proposed
in the telegram from the Colonial Office of the 23rd December, Sir Joseph Maclay would have no objection to the application
of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company being considered by the Governor of Hong Kong in connection with other applications for the charter of these steamers. If, on the other hand, it is eventually decided, as suggested in my letter of 13th March, that the steamers are to be acquired
12740 by His Majesty's Government, they will be brought to this
country, and would not be available for the Far Eastern trade.
I am,
Sir,
Under Secretary of State,
COLONIAL OFFICE.
Your obedient Servant,
P. tool for
SECRETARY.
Ch
“