CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3] — Page 38

certificate of British ownership to vessels of whose

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claim to be so considered, he was satisfied. The conditions

upon which this Certificate is granted are, I believe,

that

(a)

the applicant must prove that he is a

British subject;

(b)

he must produce proof of ownership;

(c)

the vessel must be passed by a Surveyor

appointed by the Consul.

(the latter being lately introduced by Mr.

Mansfield with excellent results.)

The Consul-General appears to have thought that this

certificate was identical with the certificate of registra-

-tion required under the Merchant Shipping Act and the

vessels possessing this certificate have continued to fly

the British flag, of course quite illegally, and to claim

British protection to which they were not legally entitled.

They were also exempt from interference by Chinese

Officials and consequent liability to illegal exactions

while the fees levied by local authorities were consider-

-ably reduced. Sir Claude Macdonald in 1898 issued "Inland

Water Regulations" which were mainly fiscal. It is stated

that he specifically authorised vessels certificated by

Consuls to fly the Red Ensign in a despatch to the Consul-

-General (No. 13 of 7th. September, 1898) which I have not

seen.