CO129-528-9 Issue of emergency certificates to enable Chinese seamen to land in English ports 6-11-1930 - 8-1-1931 — Page 9

Telegrams- "SHIPMINDER, PARL, LONDON." Telephone-VICTORIA 3840′ Ext.

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to:-

The Assistant Secretary,

Mercantile Marine Department

(address as opposite)

and the following number quoted:-

M.15913/30.

Sir,

MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF TRADE,

GREAT GEORGE STREET,

WESTMINSTER, S.W.1.

24th December, 1930.

{

With reference to your letter of the 12th December

(72930/30) enclosing copy of a despatch from the

Governor of Hong Kong concerning certain Chinese seamen,

who are to join new vessel which is being built at

Glasgow for the British Phosphate Commissioners, I am

directed by the Board of Trade to state that the main

application appears to fall within the province of the

Home Office. So far as the Board are concerned there is

no reason to suggest the grant of any exceptional

facilities to enable alien seamen to come to this country

for engagement as members of the crew of a British ship.

If, however, the reply to the main application

should be favourable, I am to suggest that, in order to

avoid possible misunderstanding, the reply to the

Governor might draw attention to:-

(1)

Section 12 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906,

which provides that a seaman engaged on board

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

S.W.1.