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certificate, the ship can be arrested by the Consul. Some
doubts were expressed by the Attorney-General as to the
exact legal power of the Consul-General to refuse his
certificate in certain cases; but the Consul-General stated
that he was prepared to use his own discretion in the
matter and leave any aggrieved party to appeal.
His Excellency considered that it was essential
that no ship should fly the British Flag on Chinese Inland
Waters if it was not entitled to protection; therefore,
great care should be exercised in Hong Kong in registering,
as British, any ships which the Consul -General would not
protect. Before, however, Hong Kong can refuse the flag to any ship entitled to it under the Merchant Shipping Act it
would be necessary to amend the law, and doubts were expressed as to whether the Board of Trade would agree to the necessary
amendment. Meanwhile, the Consul -General will refuse
protection to all ships whose owners have made no attempt to
comply with the Canton Consular District General Regulations (King's Regulation No.5 of 1915), but in those cases where application for permission to trade in inland waters has been
made under the se regulations, the Consul -General will not finally refuse to certify to the Customs that the vessels
are entitled to British protection until he has consulted with Hong Kong. At the same time the Harbour Master will advise the Consul -General through the Colonial Secretary of
any applications for registration of ships likely to ply on Anland Waters and will give the applicants a printed notice
(of which the Consul-General will supply copies) setting out
the requirements of the King's Regulations.
The impropriety of any ship, flying the British Flag,engaging in smuggling or otherwise breaking any laws
of China applicable to such ships was mentioned and the
Colonial
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