CO129-517-5 The visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Hong Kong 2-5-1929 - 23-5-1929 — Page 6

The Chine Coast Officers' Guild.

HEAD OFFICE/6, YUEN MING YUEN ROAD, SHANGHAI. SCRETARY: W. E. KIRBY,

LEPHONE: CENTRAL 2520.

67 ES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL

BRANCH OFFICI: S

■, HONGKONG.

ASSIST T SECRETARY: T. T. LAURENSON.

TELEPHONE:

2.6367.

CABLE ADQNESS: "CHICOGUI" SHANGHAI & HONGKONG. COMES: BENTLEYS & A.B.C. 5TH EDITION.

OOPY

The Marine Engineers' Guild of China.

HEAD OFFICE: 21, JINKEE ROAD, SHANGHAI SECRETARY: J. WATSON.

TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 2717.

67 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL

BRANCH OFFICE: Chann

E, HONGKONG. BRANCH SECRETARY: W. J. STOKES. TELEPHONE: 3550.

CABLE ADDRESS: "PISTONROD SHANGHAI & HONGKONG. CODES: BENTLEYS & A. B. C. 5TH EDITION.

6

Hong Kong, 29th. April 1929.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.

Sir,

Visit of His Royal Highness

the Duke of Gloucester, K.G.

We have the honour to invite your serious attention to the fact that, during the whole of His Royal Highness's stay in the Colony, while arrangements were made for the presentation of every other section of the community, both British and Foreign, no opportunity was afforded to Officers of the British Merchant Navy to present their loyal greetings to His Royal Highness.

This discourtesy is deeply resented by the Service which is composed of very loyal subjects of His Majesty the King, who, in recognition of their magnificent work for the Empire during the Great War, appointed His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to be their Master.

In their name, we, their representatives, desire to enter our most serious protest against this derogatory treatment at the hands of the officers responsible for the arrangements in connection with the Royal Visit.

We have the honour to request that His Excellency the Governor will forward a copy of this letter to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in order that it may be made manifest to his Royal Highness that the apparent want of respect was not due to supineness on the part of the Officers of the Merchant Navy.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servants,

Ithamenson.

11. J. Stoltes

Branch Secretaries.