Imperial Government Responsible for Indemnity Ordinance:
Recognized as Bad Faith Hongkong, July 26.
A report on shipping control in Hongkong has been tabled in the Legislative Council. In view of certain statements made recently in Shanghai it has been decided to issue the report without further delay. The report, which covers 20 closely printed pages vf foolscap, states, inter alia, that relations between the Hongkong Gdvernmeyt and shipowners throughout have been of a very cordial nature.
The Shipowners' Protection Association was formed under the chairmanship of Mr. 8. T. Wil-liaison, of Messrs. Moller and Ca., Ld. His services were freely placed at the disposal of the Government and were of the greatest, assistance.
The question of remuneration to be paid to owners was one of considerable difficulty. It must be remembered, the report states, that the vessels brought under local requisition were mostly old andi in more or less bad condition, having been discarded at periods more or less remote from the regcular lines. The Government strictly adhered to the policy that in deciding upon the various uses for which the ships were required any consideration of profit-making must be kept entirely in the background.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.