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No previous notice having been given to this Consulate, I was unable to depute a Consular officer to be present at the trial or execution of the criminals. I have however expressed to General Lung my opinion that, the case being one which so closely affected the Hong Kong Government, a Consular officer might well have been invited to attend the trial. I have again requested him, in the case of the Childar pirates, to have all the accused tried at the same time and to give me due notice of the trial so that I may send one of my staff to be present at the proceedings.
B-CASE OF THE SUI AN.
Pirated on 19th November, 1922.
I.-Telegram of 21st November, 1922, from The Governor of Hong Kong,
to H. M. Consul-General, Canton.
"By to-night's boat Hallifax goes to discuss with you measures concerning Piracy on the "Sui An." Will be grateful if you will arrange interviews with Civil Governor and Foreign Minister to-morrow morning or such other course as seems best to you."
STUBBS.
II. Report from The Honourable Mr. E. R. Hallifax, C.B.E.,
to Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
The "Sui An" Piracy.
In accordance with verbal instructions from His Excellency, I left with Mr. King for Canton on Tuesday night, 21-11-22. On Wednesday morning after a discussion with Mr. Davidson (Vice Consul, acting in Mr. Jamieson's absence) we went together picking up Mr. Liu Wuk Lin (Foreign Minister) on the way to interview the Civil Governor Mr. Chan Chik U. It was quickly decided on the suggestion of the Civil Governor to add him to our party and to go on and interview General Chan Kwing Ming at the Agricultural College Tong Shan: it was made very clear that General Chian's opinion alone mattered, and that he only had the power to act.
We were very cordially received and explained that we were authorised to offer any cooperation that the Canton Authorities might think necessary from Hong Kong to- wards dealing in the quickest possible manner with the pirates. We still, of course, had en- quiries left to make; but the information available was of a nature to call for immediate action against the pirates at their base, before they had time to scatter or to dispose of their loot. The important points were:-
1. That the pirate gang consisted of 60 to 70 persons, including one woman.
2. That the woman, and at least one man, were seriously wounded. (The woman
may even be dead).
3. That the gang landed at or near the island of Tsang Chau in Bias Bay very
openly and with the assistance of a junk and some 13 to 15 sampans.
4. That they took with them a lot of easily identifiable loot.
5. That out of 5 piracies this year to east of the Colony, two (Sui Yik and Wa Shang) were clearly traceable to the gang on the further side of Bias Bay: and the circumstances of the others gave every reason to connect them also.
The Consul put it that it was no time to go into the question of separate responsi- bilities for prevention: Canton and Hong Kong were equally concerned in dealing quick- ly with this case, What could Hong Kong do to help?