CO129-420 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [1-2] — Page 211

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N° 38

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Sir.

208

23

15

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG.

3rd February, 1915.

i

Circular of 30th March, 1914.

Miscellaneous of 22nd Octo-

ber, 1914.

Iclodu k E

1.

With reference to your despatches noted in the

margin, I have the honour to inform you

that the delay, which I much regret, in

addressing you on the question of this

Colony adhering to the Convention for the

Safety of Life at Sea, has been occasioned by the long interval

which has elapsed between the necessary reference to the local

Chamber of Commerce and their considered reply.

2.

I have now the honour to transmit the enclosed

/copy of the reply of the Chamber, covering a memorandum on the

subject by a Sub-Committee which had been appointed to consider

the subject.

3.

One of the points made in this memorandum is that

the provision of sufficient boats or pontoon rafts in steamers of the size engaged in the coastal trade with China is impracticable

owing to want of space to stow them, and even if space were

available would be undesirable because it would endanger the seaworthiness of these vessels owing to the excessive weight

above the centre of gravity.

This is a strong paint. The greatest safety to passengers on board a vessel encountering the circular storms which visit the China Sea, lies in the seaworthiness of the

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&c..

&C..

&c.