CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 136

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TELEGRAMS: SHIPMINDER, VIC, LONDON.

EPHONE: VICTORIA 8740.

NATIONAL

SCHEME

Dear Mr. Collins,

MERCANTILE

133

MARINE DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF TRADE,

3, SANCTUARY BUILDINGS,

GREAT SMITH STREET.

LONDON, S.W.1.

19th June, 1922.

With reference to your letter of the 10th June, on the position of Hong Kong in the matter of Load Line Certificates, we have locked into the question and find that the Hong Kong law requires ships clearing outwards to be marked with a load line, the position of the disc being fixed in accordance with the Board of Trade Load Line Tables. There appears to be no reason why Hong Kong should not have recogni-

tion, by Order in Council under Section 444 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, of load lines fixed, marked and certified there. We cannot, however, say that Hong Kong is in the same position as the Straits Settlements, in default of the existence of such Order in Council.

I think the best way of dealing with the matter would be for the Hong Kong Government to be informed of the position, and asked if they wish to apply for recognition by Order in Council under Section 444. On looking at the draft agreement, of which we got a copy from the Foreign Office on May 29th, I find that clause 2 says that the British territory coming under

"those Crown the agreement shall consist of .... Colonies which have Load Line Regulations". I think this is too indefinite, and the clause had better be "which have made provision for the fixing of load lines under regulations similar to those applicable to ships registered in the United Kingdom".

Collins, Esq.,

Years yer tru

5. Baker