99
}
3.
in trade without being certified by the Consul to the
Customs, or without having obtained the Consul'
certificate, the owners etc. are liable to penalties
and the vessel to arrest. King's Regulation No.1 of
1928 provides that nothing in the above mentioned
regulations shall affect the right of the Secretary of
state to direct that British protection shall not be
secorded to a vessel, even though it has received a
British certificate of registry, and that a consuler
{ certificate under these regulations shall not be issued
in relation to much a vessel.
1
6. The company states that the launch is used
for conveying members of the staff to and from
Kulangsu, and the Grown Advocate has advised that this
would bring it within the meaning of the worda "engage
in trade". I suggest for Your Excellency'a consider-
ation therefore that, subject to any observations which
he way wish to offer, His Majesty's Consul at Amoy
might be authorised to warn the company that even if
registration of the launch is insisted on it will be
prevented under the enactments above quoted from being
used for the purpose for which it is intended. This
despatch has been shown to the Crown Advocate and I
enclose his minute concurring in its terms.
7. As I have said above, the case is not in
itself important, but registration would create a
precedent for other and more important cases. I would
also call attention to this further example of the
difficulties caused by the attempt of our local comparay
/legislation