No.108.
Sir;
COPY.
192
Canton, November 5th. 1898.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of
your despatch No.2043 of the 4th. instant on the subject of a
piracy at Kong Mun."
On the complaint of Mr. H.L. Dennys, solicitor
of the Kwang Wan Steamboat Company, I had already addressed the
Viceroy, and urged, as strongly as possible, the absolute ne-
cessity of stringent measures not only in this particular ins-
tance but in the very numerous cases of piracy which have re-
covered on the Kwang Tung waterway during the past year.
I have exhausted all my powers of argument and
persuasion to induce the Viceroy to take some effective action
towards putting a stop to the extensive piracy now going on
in these waters, which is rapidly assuming proportions which
render it a very serious obstruction to trade in the inland
waters, and am now addressing Her Majesty's Minister asking
his assistance to oblige the Chinese Government to take drastic
preventive measures.
I venture to suggest that His Excellency the
Officer administering the Government should, in the interests
of the trade of HongKong, also invite the Minister's aid in
this matter, offering any suggestions which may occur to His
Excellency as to the best means of obtaining the end in view.
I have &c.
(Signed.) R.W.Mansfield
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
Consul.