CO129-513-5 Coastal and river trade- prevention of smuggling and illicit trading 15-10-1928 - 14-12-1929 — Page 119

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Certificate supported by the usual statutory declarations by himself and two reputable witnesses. Investigations made by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs disclosed that Mr. Loud was born in Hong Kong of parents who were also probably Hong Kong born Chinese, that he had served as a certificated officer on British ships as second and first mate during and since the war and that he had given his services while in Hong Kong during the war as a member of the Hong Kong Police Reserve. During the strike of 1925 Mr. Loud again joined the Special Police Reserve and later in the same year he helped to maintain communication with the British community in Canton by taking his ship, the "Shing On" to Canton with mails. While there he was arrested by the pickets, brought before the Strikers' Court and only escaped maltreatment by payment of a fine of $3,000. In December, 1927, at the time of the

Communist rising in Canton he assisted in breaking a strike of seamen on the Kongmun steamers by organising opposition to

the Seamen's Union.

Proof of property in Hong Kong apart from the

motor vessel "Wing Hung" was also forthcoming.

The evidence of ownership of the "Wing Hung" was considered satisfactory both by the Harbour Master and by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs who were favourably impressed by Mr. Loud's account of himself.

6.

Mr. Loud by reason of his own service as a

certificated officer on British ships, of his public spirited

action in joining the Police Reserve and of his attitude

towards the Seamen's Union, appeared to be a man who would

adequately control the crew of any vessel that he owned and

I had no hesitation therefore in recommending to the Consul-

General, Canton, that permission should be given to the

motor