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or more of the latter were concerned in the Childar piracy. The Governor of Hong Kong and myself are of opinion that, as Chinese of the seafaring class are expert in identifying junks which they have once seen, it might yet be possible to track down these vessels and others systematically engaged in piratical pursuits.
I have therefore the honour to suggest cooperation between Great Britain and China in the matter. Wu Ting-an could doubtless secure the services of the persons in Macao who saw the junks depart and could identify them. Thereafter Chinese and British vessels could search for and pursue them. By the adoption of some such measure it may be possible to extirpate the pirate flotilla, which constitutes a standing menace to the peaceful trader.
The fact that the pirates who attacked the T'ai On commenced operations near Ch'i Ao and previous knowledge regarding that island lead one to suppose that there is a nest of pirates in that neighbourhood which might with advantage be raided.
The steamer Wo Kuai which was instrumental in rescuing survivors from the T'ai On while in flames took them on to Kongmoon and it is more than probable that amongst them there were individuals concerned in the attack seeing that amongst the rescued brought to Hong Kong there were found such.
I should be glad to learn if the authorities at Kongmoon have been able to trace any of them and to receive without delay an expression of your opinion as to co-opera- tion on the lines indicated above.
V.-Letter of 8th May, 1914, from Civil Administrator, Kuangtung, to H. M. Consul-General, Canton.
A few days ago upon enquiry I learned that on the evening of the 27th April cer- tain pirates masquerading as passengers boarded the S.S. Tai On which was bound from Hong Kong for Kong-mun, and that half-way through the voyage they rose with a view to committing piracy. The captain fought with them, whereupon they set fire to and burnt the whole vessel, with the result that several hundred persons were killed, including passengers, officers and pirates, though over a hundred person-both Chinese and for- eigners were eventually saved by the Shun Li and other steamers and conveyed to Hong Kong. Of the survivors those who were injured were sent to the Tung Wah Hospital for medical treatment. I the Civil Administrator was deeply grieved at this sad news, and sent without delay a telegram to the Heung Shan and Shun Tak Districts, directing the Magistrates and Police to institute separate investigation; and directions were also given. to the Water Police Commissioner to send a vessel with all haste for purposes of protec- tion. Since there was no re-inforcement of pirates on the voyage, it is evident that all the pirates boarded the steamer in Hong Kong, and as they had no way of escape, most of them must have perished on board the steamer. This tragedy has greatly incensed me, but I am deeply grateful to the Shun Li and other steamers for their brave rescue of the unlucky Chinese, and to the Hong Kong Authorities for sending the injured passen- gers to the Tung Wah Hospital for medical treatment, and it is my duty to send this des- patch to you the Consul General with a request that you will convey my sincere thanks to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong.
VI.-Letter of 21st October, 1914, from H. M. Consul-General, Canton,
to The Governor of Hong Kong.
With reference to your* despatch No. 69 of the 14th July last, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I am now in receipt of a letter from Lung Chiang Chun dated the 20th instant, stating that seventeen persons have been tried and shot for their complicity in the T'ai On piracy, that is to say, all the persons on the list enclosed in the above mentioned despatch with the exception of Nos. 7, 8, 13, 16, 21 and 22.
*Not printed.