CO129-332 - Public Offices & Others - 1905 — Page 358

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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that the decision of the Harbour Master was bad, not only morally, but from a lawful standpoint. The Guild are bound

to admit, however, that in the case of the 5.5. 'Grecian" she was in charge of a duly licensed Pilot, whereas this was not the case with the "Wing Chai".

Taking into regard the important fact that the Guild were under a wrong impression on one or two points, we feel it a proper course to withdraw the statement to which Captain Barnes Lawrence takes objection.

In reference to the Port of Hong Kong the Guild greatly regret to observe the way British Shipping and British Merchant-Captains are unnecesarily harassed and interfered with by the authorities at the port. For instance, the Guild have information to the effect that, on the 13th June last, two Captains of British Merchant Ships were fined for blowing their steam whistles other than for the purpose of navigation, at 4 o'clock in the morning in Hunghon Bay, thereby disturbing

the peace and quietude of the neighbourhood. The Captains

of both ships protested very strongly that the whistles of their steamers were blown to warn vessels in the vicinity with a

view to avoiding collisions with them. It is obvious that these alarms would not be made without there was some specific cause in the way of danger. The Guild feel that prosecutions of the kind are exceedingly frivolous and unnecesary and are calculated to cause much adverse comment. Another instance is where a

Merchant Captain was prosecuted for anchoring in Junk Bay, because in his opinion it was dangerous for him to attempt to enter the Harbour through the Lyee-min Pass. We understand

from gentlemen serving in merchant vessels in Chinese waters

that Junk Bay has been used as an emergency anchorage for

many/

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