CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 14

to do.

12

The 'Samshui' and 'Huchow' were to all

intents and purposes large towing launches and, I think I am

right in saying that the three Europeans they were obliged to

carry, made profitable running of them impossible, under exist-

ing circumstances.

Now there are steamers running up the

-

Yangtze from Shanghai a port of British registry of five

times the size of these West River Steamers, which do not carry

their full complement of certificated officers; one, to my

knowledge has not even a certificated Master; and the Board of

Trade, to whom the matter was referred, replied that as the

Merchant Shipping Act only applied to the United Kingdom and

British Colonies, a British Vessel running to and from a foreign

port was not obliged to conform to its provisions.

Thus a British Steamer of 150 tons may

run on the West River between Canton and Wuchow, engaged in

what is for the most part purely native trade, in charge of one

European; or she may take out a launch register at the Canton

Consulate to run on inland waters, and need employ no European

at all; but, if that same vessel wishes to engage in the direct

trade with bongkong, legitimately occupied in carrying British

goods and native produce from and to a British Colony, she must

haul down her flag and hoist the Chinese unless she will carry

three European Officers. Or she may employ a foreigner as

Captain and fly his national flag, registering the Captain as

owner.

To enable British Trade on the West River

to be carried in British bottoms, 1 venture to suggest that the

Hongkong Government should make special regulations for West

Hiver Steamers of a tonnage, say under 300 tons net, who would

be

$115