CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7] — Page 6

1

CONFIDENTIAL .

27374

16 2 22

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

for

Sir,

HONGKONG. 2nd May,

1922.

With reference to my Confidential despatch

of the 11th December, 1919, I have the honour to submit recommendations for a further increase in the emoluments of certain members of the public service.

2.

In paragraph 25 of the despatch referred to above I suggested rates for the Harbour Master and Assistant Harbour Master, which were ultimately adopted; stating however that I saw no objection to higher scales which had been put forward by Mr. Severn, if these were preferred. I have since come to the conclusion that owing to the fact that I had been such a short time in the Colony I had not adequately appreciated the importance of the duties of these two officers and of certain other officers of the

department.

In this port, which as far as shipping is concerned is one of the largest in the world, the Harbour Master's duties cover very wide ground, and the post is one of great responsibility. The Harbour Master must have a complete knowledge of all matters appertaining to seamanship; he is Marine Magistrate; as Registrar of Shipping he must have a working knowledge of technicalities concerning registration, sale, mortgage of ships, status of foreign vessels, and so on; he is responsible for the lights of the

port

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WINSTON CHURCHILL, M.P.,

&c.

&C..

ko..