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having learnt from the British Shipping Companies at Hong Kong
that they were not disturbed by prospects, I returned to Canton
on November 26th, verified directly from General Wu his state-
ments to Mr. Gibbs, and awaited, somewhat anxiously,
developments.
5.
There was,
as will be seen below, considerable
confusion about the regulations, but since December 1st, they
have been enforced as regards pilotage, application on first
entry, and the requirements generally laid down in Sections
2, 3, 6 and 10 of the "Amended Temporary Measures Governing
Merchant vessels coming in or going out through Bocca Tigris"
a translation of which formed the second part of enclos: No. 2
in my despatch under reference. This system appears to be
working satisfactorily, and I have received no complaints
from shipping companies. My Portuguese colleagues, Lieutenant-
Commd. Albano Oliveira, former Mayor of Macao and concurrently
commander of the Portuguese Gunboat "Macau", succeeded in
getting the arrangements as regards pilotage modified in
respect of the Portuguese river vessels which ply direct
between Canton and Macao, so that, instead of having to take
a pilot at Hong Kong, as they would do under the regulations (section 3 last paragraph), these ships enjoy the services
of resident pilots who stay aboard these ships throughout their
journeys. The rest of the regulations remain a dead letter,
and I have recently been informed by the Commissioner of Customs
that the local authorities are anxious to see coastal steamers
drawing up to 13 feet resume calling at Canton.
6. While the position as regards merchant ships can be regarded as satisfactory, I have been compelled to take action with regard to the "Temporary Measures Governing the Navigation of Foreign War Vessels through the Channel of Bocca Tigris", a translation of which formed part of enclosure No. 2 in my
despatch/
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