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strongly that the police element should be entirely eliminated and that any Regulations or assistance received by a ship in the British Mercantile Marine should come from the Navy and in certain matters from the Harbour Department and not from the Police. Whilst in port the Indian Guards consider themselves as being off duty and they take no part in searching the people who come on board whilst the vessel is in port. It is the unanimous opinion of shipowners and officers that the Guards could and should be dispensed with from the ships.
Police Searches. The, searching and examination of passengers embarking on vessels about to leave the colony is a proper function of the police. The Police searches however are inadequate. The number of cases of ships which have been pirated by passengers who embarked with their arms is well known. Coastal and River steamers are frequently in Hong Kong for 12 hours at a time and during the whole of this time cargo and baggage is being discharged and loaded. The ship's officers cannot possibly be expected to search the people who are constantly coming and going yet the police only come on duty on the various wharves some two to three hours before the ship is due to sail. It is submitted that an adequate number of police should be on duty on the wharves the whole time, also that the Water Police should be strengthened and provided with additional suitable Harbour craft to be used in supervising and examining passengers embarking on vesels in the stream. At present Police supervision and examination of such passengers is hopelessly inadequate. This doubtless will entail a considerable in- crease in the strength of the police force and consequently increased expense. It is sub- mitted however that it is as much the duty of the Government to protect life and property on board ship by taking precautionary measures whilst ships are in port as it is to protect life and property ashore.
Whampoa to Canton. Owing to the silting up of the Tai Mei Barrier a number of vessels have to be lightened at Whampoa and the cargo so taken out has to be carried from thence to Canton in native craft.
The greatest difficulties are being experienced in inducing the owners of native craft to carry such cargoes owing to their fear of pirates.
The regulations of course cannot apply to such craft and the only defence that can be afforded to such craft must be supplied by patrols.
The Convoy System. It is not contended that the convoy system has proved entirely valueless, but experience has shown that it is a serious interference with trade as the speed of the convoy is necessarily reduced to the speed of the slowest vessel in the The result is obviously unfair to those Companies which have spent large sums in improving their vessels to cope with increased competition and also tends to stop fur- ther development.
Wireless. It is considered desirable that the Government should obtain from the owners of all vessels carrying a Hong Kong passenger certificate trading in the danger zone an assurance that the necessary steps are being taken to provide and equip such vessels with Wireless Telegraphy. A reasonable time should be allowed for installation and the education of operators.
Continuous Discharge Papers and Also 24 Hours Articles. are considered desirable and it is recommended that a special formed to go fully into the matter with the Harbour Master.
Both these reforms committee should be
Generally. Speaking generally defence from within can never of itself be ultimate- ly successful. The utmost that can be hoped for is the defence of the bridge and engine room until signals of distress can be communicated to a patrolling vessel in the neigh- bourhood and it is submitted that with adequate patrols all that is necessary in merchant vessels is protection of the bridge and engine room and the arming of officers. Once pirates know that although they may be able to overcome resistance in the ship itself they will not be able to get away, piracy will cease.
Patrols. The suppression of piracy in the adjacent waters is essentially a duty of His Majesty's Navy. An efficient service of patrols would not merely protect commerce from attacks from without but would also act as absolute deterrent to attacks from within