JPY.
347
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
CHINA STATION.
1st March, 1903.
SIR,
With reference to Your Excellency's letter of 3 January 1903 to the Commodore and your offer of a berth as indicated in the chart cutting, which berth the Commodore informed you would be utilised, have the honour to express my appreciation of Your Excellency's courtesy in the matter.
2.-The question, which led to the above offer, having arisen it will at once be apparent to Your Excellency that attention should be directed to the case of the Man-of-War anchorage at Hong Kong.
3.-When the special anchorage was set apart in 1858 the then Commander-in-Chief, Sir Michael Seymour, with a desire to afford every facility to merchant vessels, stated there was no objection to their taking advantage of it when available, "it being understood that they were to shift berth when directed by the Senior Naval Officer". This was published in the Government Gazette.
4.-If there had been any doubts of the authority of the Governor to set apart a special portion of the harbour as a man-of-war anchorage they were completely removed by the issue of an Ordinance in 1882. This instrument included an additional safeguard against improper use of the special anchorage by directing that no vessel or boats of any description should anchor in it without first obtaining the special sanction of the Harbour Master.
5.-This precaution was of course due to the necessity of preserving the efficiency of the general principles of the harbour police. The effect is that before any vessel or boat can anchor or moor in the man-of-war anchorage the special sanction of the Harbour Master must be obtained before asking permission from the Senior Naval Officer to go to any particular spot in it.
6.-I should be under an obligation to Your Excellency if you could have this made clear, it being evident from the recent occurrence that Sir Michael Seymour's courteous desire to help merchant-vessels is in danger of being construed into a right even to them to encroach on the man-of-war anchorage against the direction of the Senior Naval Officer.
I have, etc.,
(Sd) Cyprian A.G. Bridge.
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
His Excellency,
Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief,
HONG KONG.
JPY.
347
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
CHINA STATION.
1st March, 1903.
SIR,
With reference to Your Excellency's letter of 3 January 1903 to the Commodore and your offer of a berth as indicate in the chart cutting, which berth the Commodore informed you would be utilised, have the honour to express my appreciation of Your Excellency's courtesy in the matter.
2.-The question, which led to the above offer, having arisen it will at once be apparent to Your Excellency that attention should be directed to the case of the Man-of- War anchorage at Hong Kong.
3.-When the special anchorage was set apart in 1858 the then Commander-in-Chief, Sir Michael Seymour, with a desire to afford every facility to merchant vessels, stated there was no objection to their taking advantage of it when available, "it being understood that they were to shift berth when directed by the Senior Naval Officer". This was published in the Government Gazette.
4.-If there had been any doubts of the authority
of the Governor to set apart a special portion of the harbour as a man-of-war anchorage they were completely removed by the issue of an Ordinance in 1882. This instrument included an additional safeguard against improper use of the special anchorage by directing that no vessel or boats of any descrip- tion should anchor in it without first obtaining the special sanction of the Harbour Master.
5.-This precaution was of course due to the necessity! of preserving the efficiency of the general principles of the harbour police. The effect is that before any vessel or boat can anchor or moor in the man-of-war anchorage the special sanction of the Harbour Master must be obtained before asking prmission from the Senior Naval Officer to go to any partic- ular spot in it.
6.- should be under an obligation to Your Excellency if you could have this made clear, it being evident from the recent occurrence that Sir Maichael Seymour's courteous de si re to help merchant-vessels is in danger of being construed into a right even to them to encroach on the man-of-war anchorage against the direction of the Senior Naval Officer.
I have, etc.,
(Sd) Cyprian A.G. Bridge.
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
His Excellency,
Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief,
HONG KONG.
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