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Ondosures 2 to
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104
5.
regarding the
I enclose copies of correspondence requisitioning of the S. S. "Kolya".
6.
It will be seen that in the letter of the
27th. July to the Commodore regarding the S. S. "Kolya" reference was made to the assistance that the vessel would be able to render in relieving the coal situation. Under the authority of your telegram of the 12th. May, 1917, the S.S. / "Wollowra" was requisitioned by the Naval Authorities on
behalf of this Government at the end of November, 1917; and she was employed in bringing the Kailan Mining Administra- -tion's coal to the Colony both for Government account and for distribution to certain essential industries. Since the requisition scheme came into operation the S. 5. "Telemachus", "Rotorua", "Patriot", and "Ching Chow" have been diverted to carry coal on various occasions; and the "Patriot" and "Ching Chow" are still employed in bringing the Kailan Hining Administration's coal. It has thus been possible to furnish supplies of coal and coke to the Naval and Military Authori- -ties, and to various industries such as the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Hongkong Steel Foundry, Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company, Hongkong Mectric Company. In addition, this Government has for some time past supplied, and still continues to supply at a cheap rate 1,200 tons of coal monthly to the Chinese Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Without this assistance that section would be unable to continue its service, owing to its financial embarassment.
The requisitioned vessels have been put
7.
to various other uses. In consequence of a request by the Government of the Straits Settlements for assistance in carry- -ing Chinese labour to that Colony the S. S. "Wollowra" was
chartered