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It is clear therefore that the measures hitherto taken by the Canton authorities have proved entirely ineffective to suppress the pirates in that area. I am instructed by His Majesty's Government to make the strongest protest against the failure of the local civil and military officials to deal with this menace, and I am directed to point out that His Majesty's Government have the right to expect that the Nationalist Government, which claims to exercise sole authority in the South of China, should put an end to these continuous outrages against the citizens of friendly nations and so discharge the elemen- tary duties of a civilized administration.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sd.)
J. F. BRENAN,
Acting Consul-General.
XV.-Note of 17th February, 1927, from The Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Canton, to H. M. Consul-General, Canton.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has frequently requested Military Head Quar- ters to exterminate pirates and it has now received a reply stating that troops have been repeatedly despatched to Fan Wo Kong and Ping Hoi with that end in view. Amongst some tens of captives which have been made there are two whose names appear on the list submitted by H. M. Consul-General e.g. Cheung Fuk-lai etc. At present there is a battalion of troops under Colonel Cheung Kong at Ping Hoi and shortly troops will be again sent to Fan Wo Kong.
XVI.-Letter of 24th February, 1927, from H. M. Consul-General, Canton,
to The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Canton.
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a statement* made to the Hong Kong Authorities by an informer who recently visited the Bias Bay area to investigate the piracy of the British steamer "Seang Bee" regarding which I wrote to you on February
7th.
I trust that this information will enable the Canton Government to arrest the pirates whose names and villages are given, and to secure the release of the unfortunate Chinese who are still in captivity.
*Not printed.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Sd.) J. F. BRENAN,
Acting Consul-General.