}
55
4
showed that it was clearly necessary to improve the standard of wireless apparatus, especially on the northern run where the distances were greater. Mr.Graham
stated that the desired standard would be attained in
the near future by all ships registered at, or carrying passengers from, Hong Kong, since the Safety Convention
was being applied in the Colony from the 1st July
onwards. This would ensure also an adequate standard
of efficiency of the W/T operators in these vessels.
Unfortunately however, the same measures could not be
adopted in respect of ships registered at Shanghai owing
to the lack of trained surveying staff there. It was
finally decided that, for ships not covered by the
measures taken at Hong Kong, all that could be done would
be to urge the Companies to provide sets and operators
up to the standard required by the Hong Kong Regulations
for long international voyages, which adequately met the
needs of the anti-piracy routines.
The Conference agreed that it was undesirable
that wireless operators should have authority to send
out a distress message without orders from the bridge. Mr. Graham pointed out that the Post Office would strongly
object to any such arrangement. It was also agreed that
the small advantage to be gained from the fitting of
automatic alarm transmission apparatus would not justify
representations to the Companies with a view to persuading
them to instal such alarms, or to the Chinese Government,
with a view to inducing them to fit the corresponding
receiving sets in their Customs vessels.
6.
Action by Ships! Officers.
The Conference concurred in the view that the
Companies/