393.115 Hunt and Company, William/116
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Southard) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 4, 1939.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Consulate General’s Despatch No. 329 of November 18th, 1938,55 entitled “Additional China Merchants Steam Navigation Company Steamers Transferred to British Flag—Claim of William Hunt & Company”. The above cited despatch reported the transfer, by sale, from the Chinese flag to the British flag of two more of the four steamers built by or for the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company with funds loaned by the British Boxer Indemnity Fund Commission. I have now to report the completion of the sale and transfer of the fourth and last one of these steamers by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company to the local British firm of Jardine, Matheson & Company, Ltd. The price was the same as that reported for the other three steamers—85,000 pounds sterling. This fourth steamer, which was the S. S. Hai Lee, has now been named the S. S. Ming Sang by her new owners. The four ships under their new names are the S. S. E Sang, the S. S. Yu Sang, the S. S. Wo Sang, and the S. S. Ming Sang.
All of these steamers, excepting the last one which is understood to be still in dock, have been placed on regular runs for the new company, and to the best of our knowledge and belief there has been no molestation by the Japanese Navy.
Very respectfully,
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