CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12] — Page 215

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"differences of opinion, every question in dispute was invariably "settled in a spirit of friendly compromise.

The Shipowners Protection Association of Hongkong alao wish to place on record that they have no cause of complaint as to the treatment they received from the Government as they received throughout every courtesy.

When the above ships were taken under control by the Hongkong Government and the earnings sequestered, the shipomers concerned were under the impression that the sequestered earnings would be remitted to England in furtherance of the Great War, and it came to them as a great surprise in January 1920 when the then Hon. Colonial Secretary of the Colony made a statement in the Legislative Council to the effect that the earnings in question had not been remitted to England but were still in Hongkong, that the English Government did not require these monies, and that the Government of Hongkong proposed to use them for building anhotel and flats in the Peninsula of Kowloon. This allocation did not meet

with the consent or approval of the owners concerned, and they

I

thereupon commenced an action against the Hongkong Government in respect of the Steamship "Wollowra" asking for the return of the earnings still remaining in the hands of the Hongkong Govern- ment; such action was brought by them in the nature of a test action, but they have since commenced a separate action on behalf of each ship. The Statement of Claim sent herewith is the action commenced in respect of the Steamship "Wollowra" and fully sets