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Long's telegram of the 12th October, 1917 in which it is stated that "vessels will be left to owners to run as if for themselves but actually for Indian or Colonial Governments"; and this instruction is repeated in the Ministry of Shipping's letter enclosed in Mr. Long's Despatch No.235 of the 19th October, in the course of which letter it is suggested that the scheme of liner requisition already in operation in connection with British liner trades throughout the world might well be taken in some respects as a model. The Hong Kong Government was further guidedby the "Heads of Arrangement" issued by the Ministry of Shipping on the 22nd August, 1917 clause 4 of which reads as follows:- "It is not the desire of the Government to interfere either with the mature of the business of the Established Line or the method of conduct ing it which would have been followed had the controlled vessels not be requisitioned, except in so far as the national interest may require. Each Established Line shall continue there- for to manage its business and to run the controlled vessels with as much zeal and shall have the same discretion in such management as if its own interest alone were involved".
7.
This policy was accordingly embodied in the circular letter of the 13th March, 1918, to owners, a copy of which is attached, and this letter was forwarded on the 20th March, 1918 to Colonel Thomson, who was informed that, while it was not proposed for the moment to divert from their runs any of the requisitioned vessels, the Government would keep closely in view the object of the scheme, to secure that all tonnage was utilised in the most economical way and that any surplus tonnage was to be without delay diverted to meet more pressing needs. The Hong Kong Government was confirmed in the attitude which it had adopted by the correspondence regarding the coal carried for its account in the s.s. War Wolf", and more especially Mr.Long's telegram of the 6th February, 1918 which showed that the Shipping Controller was charging full market rates in respect of vessels under the Imperial Scheme, and it was also necessary for
the