CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 173

replies to letters through the harbour-master.

The latter,

being a naval officer, le probably not wanting in naval

bluntness, but as his letter is drafted in accordance with

172

of wardrobe. What is the minimum number of suits of clothes

which, within the limits of prudence, a ship's officer can

take with him in Chinese waters? Should be confine himself

instructions, we must assume that it embodies the views and the

style of Kr. Thomson. We need waste no words on this precious

epistle, which obviously stands out as a piece of calculated

rudeness. The complaining ship's officer is told that the

Government of Hong Kong flatly declines to have anything to do

with his claim, because "any loss you may have incurred is due

"to your own imprudence in carrying so large a sum of money

"with you on board the "Tai On". There is, it will be noticed,

not a single word of regret. This victim of Chinese piracy is

told, in effect: "You are a fool, and you deserve to lose your

money.

#

It is a pity that Er. Thomson or the harbour-master did not

go a little further. What would have been prudent conduct on the

to the clothes in which he stands upright, to a five shilling

watch, and to a few taels in his pocket; and may he then

be sure that that majestic instrument of British justice,

the Government of Hongkong, will give him the support, the

sympathy, and the courtesy to which he is entitled as a

British subject?

Or would the ship's officer in such

circumstances be told that his claim was altogether too

trifling for Mr.

about?

•

Thomson and the harbour-master to bother

We confess we are unable to answer any of these queries.

On the whole, and if this case is any criterion, we should

think an aggrieved ship's officer at Hong Kong would be well

advised if, in laying a complaint before the Hong Kong

Government, he were to intimate that he was sending a copy

part of the master and officers of the "Tai On"? Why should they

of it to the Foreign Office in London, as well as to his

not tell us? They say that so many dollars means imprudence,

but they do not say how few dollars would be consistent with

prudence.

Can they not oblige with a scale for the guidance

of ship's officers in the future? Again, there is the question

shipmasters' association in this country. It is as well

that

of