CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 631

Copy.

Sir,

ENCLOSURE /

(ant enclosure /.)

Harbour Department.

626

Hongkong 11th. May, 1901.

12.WG OF

I have the 'honour to inform you that the

Master of the British S.S. "Loongsang" reports that the British

Vice Consul at Manila made him take two British seamen from

that port and bring them here without providing him with any

"conveyance order" as provided for in the Board of Trade

Instructions.

Men thus irregularly sent here cannot be treated

by me as Distressed British Seamen, hence they become a charge

on the Colony, as it does not seen 'just to throw the charges

for maintenance on the Master of the ship, under the Vagrancy

Ordinance, seeing that he has to obey the orders of the Vice

Consul.

I therefore beg to suggest that the Vice Consul be

'communicated with, with a view of putting a stop to such

irregularities, more especially as this is not the first occa-

sion on which he has saddled the Colony with such people.

I enclose an open letter handed by the Vice Consul

to the Master of the "Loongsang".

I have &c.,

THE HONOURABLE.

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

(sd). Basil Taylor,

Acting Harbour Master.