FO371-23517 — Page 245

2.

Page 245

Page 245

1939

F

CHINA

F 3753

19 APR 135

Registry

Number S

Clearance of certain vessels from Hong Kong.

Refers to Colonial Office letter of 23rd March F 3753/2906/10 (F 2906/2906/10). Transmits copy Hong Kong despatch

No. 178 of 11th March regarding application from FROM Colonial Office. Dairen Kisen Kaisha for clearance of these vessels and

No. 53838/11/39.

Dated 17th April 1939,

Receiveistry} 19th April

F:China.

1939

enclosing copies of communications from Chinese Government and their local solicátors asking that Hong Hong Government should take active steps to prevent removal of these vessels from Hong Kong waters. Request advice as to instructions which should be sent to Hong Kong. No further information has been received as to outcome of action against Cheng Kee Company.

(Copy Board of Trade).

Last Paper.

F2906

References.

(Print.)

(How disposed of.)

1- CO am 27 F14 BIT 28

Tykyo

Aft F14, Dn27

โร

No!

F9 Tgleys No. 2.97350

Shandai (cones)

9M28

(Action completed.)

828/4/39

(Index.)

Next Paper.

F4945

(Minutes.)

The Japanese are apparently trying to get hold

of six Chinese steamers which have been lying in Hong !

Kong waters since August 1937. They belong to the

Cheng (or Ching) Kee Steam Navigation Company, which is

in process of being wound up by the Chinese Government

and for which a receiver in Hong Kong is being, or has

been, appointed. On the 5th February the Dairen Kisen

Kaisha, a Japanese concern who claim to have been

appointed by the Cheng Kee Company to be their agents,

applied for clearance for these ships. In the case of

two of them clearance could not be considered as no

certificates of seaworthiness were forthcoming. In the

case of the other two, however, these were produced;

but on the 11th February, upon the application of an

officer of the Chinese Ministry of Communications

under instructions from his Government, and of the

Secretary of the China Merchants Steam Navigation

Company which hold a large block of shares in the

Cheng Kee Company, and upon 20,000 dollars having been

paid into court, an injunction was made by the Supreme

Court of Hong Kong debarring clearance of the ships

until further notice.

16757 3/38 F.O.P.

So/

Page 245

Page 245

Page 245Page 246