CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 454

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the various matters dealt with in Sir Henry May's despatch of the 21st May, 1918, in my despatch of the 1st November, 1918, and in this report. I shall be glad if permission may be given by telegram.

Your Excellency,

I submit the following report upon the Shipping Control Scheme operated by the Hong Kong Government. The report is supplementary to the reports made in Sir Henry May's and your Confidential Despatches of the 21st May and 1st November, 1918.

I have, etc.

(sgd) CI AUD SEVERN. Officer Administering the Government.

(Sa) M.Fletcher.

5.4.19.

As som

as the armistice with Germany was signed the situation on the China Coast began to assume a more normal aspect, and it rapidly became apparent, on the one hand that the Government would find increasing difficulty in maintaining its control, and on the other that there was less and less justification, on the score of expediency, for its action in so doing. On the 14th November a largely attended meeting of British Members of the Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution urging the Government to press for the release of all requisitioned ships as soon as possible; and on the 16th November the Secretary of State was informed by telegram to this effect, it being stated that there was no objection to the immediate release of vessels held under the local scheme, provided that tonnage could be retained for the coal supply. On the 6th December the Shipowners Protection Associa- tion of Hong Kong, an Association representing sixteen shipp- ing companies which was formed to protect the interest of the owners of locally controlled vessels, pressed strongly for the release of the ships; further telegrams were addressed to the Secretary of State on the 13th and 31st December and 23rd January; it being urged in the last telegram that the local control should be abolished; and in the Secretary of State's telegram of the same date a discretionery power was given to discontinue the requisition scheme. The Secretary of State was informed by telegram on the 29thJanuary that it had been decided to release the ships from financial control with effect from the 1st February, and steps were taken

accordingly