31.
Piracy is one of the great plagues of Hong Kong, interfering ruinously with its comforts and its prosperity. The prevalence of piracy, petty piracy in the Harbour and neighbourhood, and piracy on a larger scale at a greater distance, is a significant issue. "With the larger piratical fleets, the authorities are frequently able to deal - and when they assemble in large numbers, it frequently happens that their outrages arouse the attention of the Naval authorities and they are dispersed and destroyed by Her Majesty's Maritime forces; sometimes, as on a late occasion, in cooperation with the Naval authorities of the United States.
But against the petty robberies committed on a smaller scale and by smaller craft, we have little protection – Her Majesty's Steamers being altogether of too deep a draught and too heavy a calibre to follow the pirates into those shallow waters to which they retreat. It is of the utmost importance that a Steamer or two - well armed and manned – and drawing only 4 to 5 feet of water at most should be sent to this Colony to be employed on the adjacent Coasts for the suppression of piracy.
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