CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6] — Page 101

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COFY.

Enclosure 2.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

C.O.

6124

Rec

99

I agree in the view expressed #05Excel-

lency's minute for two reasons:-

1.

The Harbour Master informs me that the Cer-

tificates which have been granted to these ships by the French

Consul at Canton are not equivalent to those required in the case

of British Ships; e.g. the Consul's Certificates allow a larger

number of passengers than any Certificate issued in Hongkong, and

they do not require equal life saving appliances, and they were

not based on a proper examination of the hulls, for which there is

no available dock in Canton. Under these circumstances, His Excel-

lency-in-Council would presumably decide that the Consul's Certifi-

cates are not sufficient to protect these ships from survey under

section 10 and such decision would be final.

2.

Even if the Consul's Certificates were equi-.

valent to those required in the case of British Ships, I am inclin-

ed to think they are not Certificates "from the Foreign Ships'

own country" within the meaning of Section 10 (8) (b), whatever

powers the French Government may claim to have conferred on their

Consul.

16th. January, 1905,

(Sa.) B. B. Sharp.