160
His Majesty's Vice Consul also informed me verbally that, if the Kuangtung Government should need the co-operation of a British warship in the matter, one might be detailed to proceed to the spot.
I thereupon requested my Government to give me the necessary instructions, and am now in receipt of an order to the effect that this matter should be dealt with by the Nationalist Government themselves, who would certainly be able to exterminate these pirates. Moreover they had already begun to move in the matter, and there was no need of foreign assistance. No interference would be tolerated from anyone, and the case had already been entrusted to the Military Council to be dealt with as speedily as possible.
I have the honour therefore to address you this reply which I would request you to communicate to the Governor of Hong Kong.
I have, etc..
(Sd.)
TUNG PING-CH’ANG.
III.-Semi-official letter of 11th February, 1926, from H. M. Consul-General,
Canton, to The Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
Dear Hallifax,
I wrote to the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs on January 22nd about the "Tung- chow" piracy and enquired what steps were being taken by the Military Council to deal with the pirates, and also offered to place at his disposal what information I had regard- ing the Bias Bay gangs. He replied on the 26th that no report had yet been received from the Military Council, and added that he would be grateful for any details regarding the pirates.
Your sincerely,
(Sd.)
J. W. JAMIESON.
IV.
NOTE. There is no further Correspondence, and the matter ended there.
E-CASE OF THE S.S. "JADE".
Pirated on 5th February, 1926
F. CASE OF THE S.S. "TAI YAU”.
Pirated on 6th March, 1926.
G-CASE OF THE S.S. "HSIN KONG".
Pirated on 25th March, 1926.