Immediately upon' legal action being taken, the Colonial Secretary approached the owners, through the Shipowners Protection Assoviation, with a view and a request to stay such legal proceedings for stich period as would give him time to communicate with the Home Government with a view to settling the. matter amicably, pointing out that it was inadvisable to continue expensive litigation when it was possible to settle the matter otherwise. Unfortunately your Chairman and Mr. T. Williamson (the Chairman of the Shipowners Protection Association) agreed to this request.
The speaker then alleged that time had thus been given to the Hongkong Government to prepare and put into effect an i effective counter-move, in the shape of the Indemnity Ordinance, 1922, which came into force in August of that year, and which meant that the owners of the steamers were entirely debarred from seeking redress in the Courts. Needless to say, he continued, appeals of every kind were made against this injustice, but these. were without avail and the Indemnity Bill, after passing its various stages, eyertually came into force as an Ordinance. The hands of the owners were thus tied, the test case which they had already instituted was thrown out, and they were left with nowhere to turn for assistance or a fair hearing. From figures carefully compiled, _and which I believe to be correct, the net-profits accruing to the Hongkong
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.