CO129-282 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [3-4] — Page 354

i1

7

COPY.

No.408.

Sir,

C O

10951

REGE IF N 98

EN CLOSURE

4.

RECT

Colonial Secretary's Office.

Hong-Kong,18th. March,1898.

351

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt

of your leter of the 10th, instant.

In reply I am directed to inform you that

&

the Treaty you quote gives you power to require from the

proper authorities "the assistance provided by law for the

apprehension, recovery and restoration of any seaman who may

desert from any United States vessel.

The "assistance provided by law" is that

specified in sec.20 sub-section (1) of the Merchant Ship-

ping Consolidation Ordinance, No. 26 of 1891. You will ob-

serve, that, by that enactment, the alleged deserter must be

conveyed before a Stipendiary Magistrate, when "in case he

shall refuse to return to his duty on board or shall not

give a sufficient reason for such refusal, the Stipendiary

Magistrate may order such seaman to be put forcibly on

board or to be confined in gaol until he can be put on

board his ship at her departure from the Port,or until he

The Consul

shall

for the United States.

80. >

80.1

&C.,