CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918 — Page 66

Ims — SHIPMINDER, VIC, LONDON."

Any further communication on this et should be addressed to-

The Sacretary.

Ministry of Shipping.

8. James's Park,

London, 3. W. 1.

the following number quoted :—

24/71508/17

Sir,

MINISTRY OF SHIPPING,

16 March, 1918.

C.O

64

13479

REC REG 1 MAR 18

I am directed by the Shipping Controller to

Mou

acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant (No. 12097/1918) enclosing a copy of a

telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong with regard

to the control of shipping in the East.

In reply, Sir Joseph Maclay desires me to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Long, that he is unable, for the reasons already indicated in his previous letters, to agree to the acceptance by His Majesty's Goverment of any responsibility for the financial results of the proposed requisitioning scheme.

With regard to the Governor's request that His Majesty's Government should reconsider their decision not to accept the responsibility for War Risks, it is observed that this request is made on the ground that as the vessels concerned are old and mostly in bad repair, the Hong Kong Government may be faced with very heavy expenses in repairing and running them, and in these circumstances, am to suggest that the Governor should be informed that the expenses connected with the repairing and running of the vessels, apart from the cost of coals and the excess of wages

Under Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE,

London, S.W. 1.

I