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2
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31.
We were infomed that the Hong Kong Government had
announced on the 25th of April 1924 that in the event of
the death or disablement of an officer on a ship on the
Hong Kong register, by reason of piratical attacks, grants
would be made by Government to the officer or his estate
provided the Piracy Regulations have been properly observed.
Our attention was however drawn to the following paragraph
in the Gazette Notification in which this scheme was
announced; -
"This undertaking on the part of Government is not
intended to relieve Shipping Companies of their responsibilities
in the matter of the insurance of their officers but is
intended to supplement such arrangements as may be made by
the Companies".
We are in complete agreement with the principle underlying
this announcement. In our view the responsibility for
making provision for the dependents of their officers
should rest with the ship owners, and not with the Govern-
ment. In the first instance therefore we consider that the
Guilds should make every endeavour to induce the Companies
to institute a system of insurance voluntarily. If, however,
the ship owners are obdurate, we consider that the Hong Kong
Government should consider the question of making it
obligatory on them either to insure their officers adequately
or to defray the cost of an adequate Government scheme of
insurance.
ever,
A GAFFE Eigentlichen
PR
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
Mvatielow
SAE
7.7. Pastin (Secreton)
G. Grindle
4. Tomkinson