Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 586

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3. No, except at Japanese ports where the vile and poisonous liquor sold to the men capsizes them at once,

4. No.

5. Yes.

(a.) Not known but believed to be good.

(b.) Very successful.

Commodore

SWINTON C. HOLLAND, A.D.C., Hongkong.

I have the honour to be.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

E. CHICHESTER.

Captain.

4:

H.M.S. CENTURION AT HONGKONG,

16th March, 1898.

Drunkenness amongst the Ship's Company.

SIR, With reference to the information required by the Commission appointed to enquire into the sale of alcoholic liquors at Hongkong, I have the honour to report as follows:-

Par. 1. Number of cases of returning from leave drunk, 9; of leave breaking (probably due to drunkenness) 48. The ship's company numbers 700; these cases occurred in a period of about two months.

Par. 2. Drunkenness and leave breaking affect a man's career in the service to

a serious extent. For instance:-

5th May. Two men of very good character awarded cells for leave

breaking offences.

7th May. Two men deprived of Good Conduct Badges for leave

breaking offences.

Par. 3. From my own experience which is short and from what I have been told, I do not consider that the drunkeneess at Hongkong is so bad as at some of the Japanese ports, and the liquor is decidedly better at most of the grog shops; at some few, however, it is of inferior quality.

Par. 4. No, the cases have not been numerous amongst the ship's company

of the "Centurion,"

As stated in par. 3, the liquor generally is of pretty good quality; but, no doubt. the cases of drunkenness would be lessened if it could be ensured that no inferior qualities be sold.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Commodore

SWINTON C. HOLLAND, A.D.C.,

Hongkong.

J. E. JELLICOE. Captain.