§ 32. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will explain the issue of Notice 601 in the Hong Kong Government Gazette of the 22nd November, 1929, stating that Chinese nationals will be permitted to sit at the Board of Trade examinations for master, first mate, and chief engineer under the same conditions as laid down for British subjects; and whether this means that the Board of Trade Regulations which confine examinations for certificates of competency under the Merchant Shipping Act to British subjects have now been widened?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe arrangement made by Order No. 601 in the Hong Kong Government Gazette of the 22nd November, 1929, was approved at the instance of the Colonial authorities in Hong Kong. As to the effect of the arrangement, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on the 19th February to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon).
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the last part of the question, as to whether this means that the Board of Trade Regulations, which confine examinations for certificates of competency to British subjects, have been widened?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo, Sir, I gather that in this case they do not receive a certificate of competency, which is restricted to British subjects, but that they receive in its place a letter signed by the examiner 2038 certifying that the examination has been passed. That is really the essence of the change.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes that apply only to Chinese and not to any other nationals?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI prefer that that question should be put on the Paper.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes this letter entitle them to serve as officers on British ships; and is it given in place of the Board of Trade certificate?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should not like to reply finally to that question without notice, but I understand that that is not the case.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNECan the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is not a fact that British subjects born in India, for example, are perfectly entitled to sit for these examinations and receive certificates as any other British subject?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat is quite new material. If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will gladly give him a reply.
§ Sir LAMING WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what is the value of this letter if it does not enable the people who receive it to serve as mate and so on on British ships?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIt is largely, as I understand it, a question of providing examination facilities, and this letter from the chief examiner is not a certificate of competency which can only be granted to British subjects.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWhat is the use of the letter? Has the letter any value or validity at all?
§ Mr. GRAHAMOh. yes, certainly. I should think that it would have value, at all events, as showing that these examinations have been taken, and up to a point they are evidence of a certain level of competency.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the use of the letter, which, having been given, does not appear to qualify the recipient for anything at all?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIt qualifies for service beyond question.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSFor what?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIt must qualify for service in some capacity. I cannot this afternoon indicate to the right hon. Gentleman the precise way in which it can be used without notice of a question of that kind.