Piracy Regulations.
19
Sir E. Stubbs, however, thought that this too would be impracticable. If such a corps of officers did not contain enough members to man all the ships requiring them, there would be trouble. To ensure that there as a sufficiency of officers would mean that there would have to be a surplus, and the problem of paying them when not employed would arise and would probably be an unsurmountable difficulty.
In
Mr Moss referred to the contentions which had been put forward that ships officers were reluctant to risk their lives because there is no adequate scheme for insurance. reply to Sir G Grindle. Sir E, Stubbs stated that the Hong Kong Government had not proceeded with the suggestion that Government should make it obligatory on the owners to insure their officers. In his view it is quite unnecessary to do so. Wages are high and the officers can, if they wish, insure their own lives at
cheap rates.
?
Sir G. Grindle observed that since it appeared that no hope can be seen from an amendment of the Merchant Shipping Regulations the solution might be so to tighten up the adminis- tration of the Piracy Regulations that these unsatisfactory Chinese ships rould be forced off the register. ships run by reputable Companies would comply with the regula- tions in their own interests.
Well found
Sir E. Stubbs agreed, and he said further that the hands of the Hong Kong Government would be very greatly strengthened if His Majesty's Government would back them unequivocally in their view that the only real remedy lies in enforcing the Piracy Regulations, The much discussed Minority Report of the Local Committee had never yet been adequately answered, and there was undoubtedly a feeling in the Colony that Wisajesty's Government
had