CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3] — Page 407

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1

COPY.

72.2173/17.

Government House,

Hongkong,

22nd. March,

1917.

sir.

401

+

With reference to your smi-official note

of the 21st. instant I have the honour to inform you that

I have no objestion whatever to communianting to the Senior Naval Officer any matters connected with the war with which that officer may ultimately have to deal, provided alwys that my instructions from the Secretary of State permit of such communication.

In this connection I would draw your attention

to the fact that under the Colonial Regulations communications marked Secret addressed to a Governor by the Secretary of State comet be communiented to my one without the express authority from the Secretary of State. The original communications to me concerning the recent detention of Neutral ships was such a commication, but I shall suggest to the Secretary of State that during the period of the war I may use my discretion in making known such communications to the local and Naval and Military Authorities.

I have &c..

(Sd.) F. H. Moy,

Governor, &a..

Commodore H. G. G. Sandeman, R. N.,

Hongkong.