Britain is applying 9 new "warrant aystem" applicable to foreign charta ed vessels trading in British ports, it was learned here today.
Under the system agents or owners of such vessels must guarantee not to trade with the enemy and. also must guarantee to transfer the ships to Britain If such transfer is required.
Ships not complying with the "wa LIME Hongkong Government seems unfortunate in timing all its evacuation moves, scemii to bring more censure U an praise on its head with every measur The recent rescinding of the the comparatively few European has caused much bitter comment, dropped a good deal earlier the compulsory evacuation order for British women left in the Colony whereas if compulsion had been public's re: action might have been more cordial. Now, comment is made that lit from the start, all those who ce-operated immediate! ly and willingly with the Government got the worst of the deal, very well for themselves. while the recalcitrants have done recalled that those who left the Colony immediately after the start fof the evacuation scheme had an ur. comfortable trip to Manus, a Tong and Wwearying stay in the Philippines anc an overcrowded passage to Australia. Then, weeks later, the more unwilling evacuees left Hongkong direct for Australia, in comparative luxury.
Now, according to the best infor-motion, all those who have ""wangled" exemptions, temporary or otherwise. or have set their heels in and refused to budge, have apparently won. a victory against the policy of the Gove Government. which now merely says] Ghat it would be "preferable" those women were to leave.
"All this, of course, has greatly strengthened the hand of the recent~ ly-formed. Evacuation Registration Committee, "representing a large plea for the relaxation of the order applying to those women now in Australia, who are still compelled to stay where they are.
This latest plea is being submitted to a higher outhority—the Secretary State for the Colonies—and all hus-Bands are being asked to register with the Committee and subscribe towards the costs Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.