HC Deb 27 July 1953 vol 518 cc80-1W
64. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the ship "Nidar" owned by a British registered company was captured by Chinese Nationalists last December while flying the Panama flag; and what action he is taking with regard to use by the master of the Panamanian flag.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have seen Press reports of this formerly Panamanian ship coming into Chinese Nationalist hands last December. The "Nidar" was not on our register and I have no reason to suppose that her ownership was such as to entitle her to be registered under the Merchant Shipping Acts as a British ship and to fly the British flag. As regards the last part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government have no jurisdiction over the flying of foreign flags by foreign ships.