The case reported elsewhere io this issue in which Mr. Eric Moller consented to judgment for the sum of Tls. 157,009 cannot but call for sympathy for the unfortunate debtor, who is one of that small coterie of Chinn Coast shipowners whose vessels were reuusitioned by "the Hongkong jovernment during the period immediately preceding and follow.
1g the Armistice. It will be remembered that in respect of the requisitioning the owners. were awarded tramp Blue-beok_ rates, and that, while operating the ships for' and ow behalf of the Hongkong Government, meant to commercial interest in the. ships, benefiting to the extent of more than two- million dollars. The owners (not unnaturally, it would seem) asked for all oF this money to cover the proved Tosses and to give the some of the profits which, without requisition, would wholly have been theirs. 'The Hongkong. Government. countered and counfered, and while countering pass-an. Indemnity. Ordinance which completely and for over precluded the owners from even. Suing. for the money.. the: cireumstances.one can wider-stand' and appreciate. the remark of counsel for the debtor who, in, stating that his client, consent: the "owners the loss' of many ed to judgment, remarked. that thousands of dollars, the Hong. his client "would not, if, he kong Government, from their could, pass an Act of Indemnity."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.