CO129-332 - Public Offices & Others - 1905 — Page 26

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upon discharge at Hong Kong were entitled to claim payment

to themselves of any wages due, and further that no Agreement

between the Master or Owner and seamen would relieve the

former of liability for any expenses properly incurred for

the latter as distressed seamen.

As to the repatriation of the Italians of the

*Inkula" I am to state that the Hong Kong Authorities had no

power under the Merchant Shipping Acts to require passages as

distressed seamen for these men to a port of their own,

or

any other foreign country, and that strictly they could only

have been returned to Italy as ordinary passengers.

The Board find however that the Harbour Master has

succeeded in returning several Italians to European ports as

distressed seamen,

Some of the men arrived in this country and the

Board.in view of the Agreement existing between the Govern-

ments of Great Britain and Italy for the mutual relief of

distressed seamen, have felt bound to forward them to Italy,

but whether or not payment of the expenses so incurred can be

obtained from the owner of the "Inkula" is doubtful.

The Board have no authority with respect to the

relief

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