CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12] — Page 300

2.5

Jopy.

233

ed It

?Jrwoods

пcitermodni quo dard deind sw noisulanes NI

gind = telt dem Urm an yom boddimoq ste aw ti basso) To yderend kom wall bosteidau ne yd qu nwert að ytrel rodzeń Jastle ad Loo ir frie[gres to↑ Envers reddruð vNA STER Bedroo de tomil son add no eď bre J909 [[ers Vrav 8 Ja -noo Janez tiv son brosos xi sď oal: B[uow Ens,aetudæit .erol is astudxit beilont

"rad sr

Ted (yrosynch) .00 * 19[IOM TOL

108meilli. .. .2 .LO

Tobutil

Gentlemen,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 14th May, 1918.

I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 19th April and the 1st May, regarding the Hong Kong Shipping Control scheme, and at the same time to express regret that they have remained so long unanswered.

2.

With regard to the question of remuneration to owners, this Government, as you are aware, is acting under the instructions of His Majesty's Government. His Excellency has made representations by telegram on the subject.

3.

As to the question of legal authority, the ships have been requisitioned on behalf of, and under instructions from, His Majesty's Government, who have instructed this Govern- ment to superintend their maut management. In these circum- stances this Government must refer you to His Majesty's Govern- ment on the point of the legal authority for the requisitioning.

4.

With regard to the request for a local Board of Arbitration this Government has definite instructions that the remuneration to vessels under the local scheme is to approximate to that paid to the larger and more important class of vessels on the China Coast, which are under the Imperial Liner Requisition Scheme. It would, in the opinion of this Government, be inadvia-

able to suggest that the two classes of vessels should be dealt

with separately. As I have stated above, representations have

already been made to the Home Authorities on the question of

remuneration.

5.

It would seem that the omers, in pressing their request for a representative on the Shipping Control Committee, are under a misapprehension as to the functions of that Commit- tee. The Committee have been chosen, as an independent body having no connection with the requisitioned ships, to advise the

sre. Deacon, Looker, Deacon & Harston,

Hongkong.

A

!

Page 300Page 301