CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 243

include the Substance 954682

we should also

ว

Tel Substance

15460210

In Srails.

06.13/121.5

AER

16.19.16

G.G..

15.12.16

ottwe

Any further communication should be ddressed to

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, (MARINE DEPARTMENT}, And the following letter and number should be quoted :—

M. 30321

Telegraphic Address.

BOARD TRADE, MARINE,

LONDON.

sir,

C. O.

58699

BOARD OF TRADREC.

(MARINE DEPARTMENDE 16

237

7, WHITEHALL GARDENS,

LONDON, S.W.

6th December, 1916.

reference to your letter of the 24th November, No. 54682/1916, and previous correspondence respecting vessels under construction at Hong Kong for foreign account, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Bonar Law, that they fully recognise that the conditions under which ships are built at Hong Kong differ in some respects from the conditions under which ships are built in the United Kingdom and they are prepared to recommend a higher rate in the case of the Hong Kong ships than is paid in the case of United Kingdom ships.

It is, however, absolutely essential, in view of the shortage of tonnage, that every ship that is built in the Empire for neutral owners during the war should be tied down to service to Allied Countries, at least during the period of the war. The Board would therefore suggest, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Bonar Law, that the Officer Administering the Goverment of Hong Kong might be informed that it is not possible to allow these ships to be exported from Hong Kong unless they are time-chartered for the period of the war to a firm acting as a nominee of the Goverment for the period of the war at a special rate of hire, which the Board suggest should be 25/-' per deadweight ton per month.

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Event. & Koppenge

i

0.