-3-
54
JA
GTA
"Generally, the Regulations as a whole are viewed by our "members with great disapprobation, as being unjust, impracticable "and, therefore, useless for the purpose for which they are devised,
"We would first point out that we have reason to believe (which is strongly supported by the wording of the document) that "no active member of the Mercantile Marine has been consulted in "the framing of the Regulations, which do not as a whole, or in "any material point, coincide with the tenor of the suggestions "put forward at an earlier date.
"Section 1.
"This section discloses a very grave misconception of the "conditions under which piracy occurs on the Canton River delta and "the China Coast generally.
"In postulating that it is the duty of the master and "other certificated officers to resist to the utmost any piratical "attack it asgumes that they have a crew of their own nationals "under their command and that the pirates attack the vessel from "the outside.
"This is not the case, not only are these officers "surrounded by an alien crew, but this alien crew may be, passively "if not actively, part of the piratical gang. (Instance, the "quartermaster of the "Sui An" leaving the wheel and jumping to the "main deck for refuge).
"The further and greater difficulty arises from the fact "that none of these attacks are initiated from outside the vessel. "Fill the actual moment of launching the first attack the pirate e "are apparently peaceful passengera and are free to place theme elves "in any coign of vantage which they have ample time and opportunity "to select, without let or hindrance and, possibly, with the conni- "vance, if not actual co-operation of their compatriots who form "the crew.
"This is the position in which three, four or, at most "five European officers find themselves when they are commanded, "by persons who have not been, or ever will be so placed, to resist "to the utmost, and gives reason for the pertinent question:- "What is the utmost they can do? To which the obvious answer "is:- Absolutely nothing.
"This obligation is imperative and no discretion "may be exercised whether to resist pirates or not", "Imperative obligations admit of no discretion. Discre- "tion is the quality without which no man can be an officer; the "very idea of an officer without discretion is a paradox and, to "say the least, ludicrous and absurd. The officer is the leader "of others, the individual with the brain to direct the forces at "his disposal and it is he who assesses the position and issues "the executive commands.
"Sections 2 & 3.
"Any particular officer considered unfit by the "Governor in Council shall cease to be employed as "an officer on the ship".
"As the particular officer in question will hold a Cer- "tificate of competency issued by the Board of Trade and will have "no other vocation, What steps will be taken to permit him to "obtain an honourable living ?
"It would appear that it is the intention of the Hongkong "Government that Officers of the Merchant Service who were,
during "the War, ranked with the next to Officers of the Royal Navy are "now to be treated with leas consideration than the "rating" in "that Service.
This attitude is proposterous, and the Officers of His "Majesty's Mercantile Marine serving on the China Coast demand fair "treatment and the recognition of their status which is nowhere "evinced in the document under review.