CO129-407 - Public Offices & Others - 1913 — Page 93

(Copy) .34616.

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92

43661

Home Office,

REC

Whitehall.

REGE 20 DEC 13

24th November, 1913.

Gentlemen,

I am directed by the Secretary of State to communicate with you respecting certain breaches of the Aliens Act comitted by the Master of the S/S."Telthybius", owned by your Company, which arrived in the Thames from Hong Kong on the 27th October. The Laster reported no Alien passengers, but

informed the Officer of Customs at Gravesend that he had 98 Chinese seamen who were borne on the ship's articles and wore intended to be transferred to two other vessels belonging to your firm as part of their crews. On receiving this information the Chief Immigration Officer under the Aliens Act followed the vessel to the Royal Albert Dock and ascertained that these Chinese seamen were in addition to the normal crew of the "Talthybius" and were admittedly not "employed in the working or service" of the ship. They were therefore, clearly passengers within the meaning of section 8 (3) of the Act, and returns should have been furnished with respect to them in compliance with section E of the Act and the Secretary of States orders thereunder. Further, as they were not cabin passengers, they should not have been landed until they had been inspected and duly passed by the Immigration Officer. They were however, landed on the day after their arrival without inspection and without returns being ads,

Subsequently, as a result of an interview with

the Chief Immigration Officer, your London Agents, Messrs. J.

Bwire

Lessrs. Alfred Holt and Sons,

Ocean Steamship Company,Ltd.,

Liverpool.