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The Hong Kong Government would welcome the opportunity of co-operating with the Government of Canton. If timely information is given, it will do its utmost to arrest any known pirate found within its territories and it will, on adequate information, deal effectively with any pirate who may escape or attempt to escape into the territories or waters of the Colony.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sd.)
J. F. BRENAN,
Acting Consul General.
X.-Letter of 15th December, 1926, from Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Canton, to H. M. Consul-General, Canton.
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to our meetings to consider the question of Chinese and British co-operation in the suppression of pirates. The matter was discussed yesterday at this Ministry, when you held that, since there were no pirates in the Mirs-Bay district, this part of the scheme might be dropped. As regards the Bias Bay pirates, China pre- ferred to proceed with the work of suppression with her own, forces and had no wish to borrow the assistance of British troops. This was understood on both sides. Regarding your wish that military officers and Hong Kong detectives should assist the Chinese troops in their operations. I am most grateful for your kind intention, but, if there are foreign military officers with the Chinese troops, I feel convinced that it would be undesirable. Concerning the Hong Kong detectives, supposing that they are Chinese, I would request that their names should be communicated beforehand to the office of the Commander-in- Chief for suitable action. If the Hong Kong detectives can furnish detailed information in advance as to the lairs of the pirates and their numbers, so that particulars may be collated, this would be of great service to military operations on the Chinese side. I hope that you will take action accordingly, in the interests of friendly relations.
I have, etc.,
(Sd.)
CH'EN YU-JEN
XI.-Communique by the Canton Information Bureau
dated 16th December, 1926.
In accordance with the plan drafted by the Kwangtung Provincial Govern- ment for the suppression of banditry the Canton Authorities have decided to send troops to attack the zone around Bias Bay, where the sea-pirates have their stronghold:
The General commanding the Eighteenth Division has been ordered to send troops to the attack and the Canton Navy forces have been ordered to send a gunboat to co-operate.
For the zone close to Hong Kong, the New Territories and adjacent waters, the Canton Auhorities, after notifying the Hong Kong Government of the commencement of the campaign, have made it clear to Hong Kong that co-operation is desired to the extent of arresting bandits crossing the Boundary and handing them to the Chinese Authorities, on land as well as on sea.