CO129-544-16 Request for Board of Trade prohibition on engagements of marine officers without repatriation clause 15-8-1933 - 12-12-1933 — Page 9

Telegram.

From the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of

State for the Colonies.

Dated 15th August.

(Received Colonial Office 11.48 a.n. 15th August, 1933.)

9

No. 136.

British Mercantile Marine Officers are arriving here from Japan without funds having brought out British ships to Japan for breaking up with guarantee of repatriation to Hong Kong only. Prospects of Marine employment in Hong Kong are poor and I must protest strongly against terms of engagement throwing cost of subsistence and probably of repatriation to England on public funds or charity of this Colony.

Cases now before me are Roberts sailed as 3rd Engineer of "Desna", and Mercer sailed as 4th Engineer of "Darro" both engaged by Pedder Mylchreest & Co., of 81, Gracechurch Street, London. Suggest that the Board of Trade be requested to stop immediately further engagements without guarantee of repatriation to the United Kingdom not

convertible into cash and to compel employers to make good any charges that may fall on Hong Kong.