COPY.
5.0.
13320 248
Rec?
&
Prc 30 APR 00
:
SIT,
HongKong General Chamber of Commerce.
HongKong, 21st. September, 1899.
I am directed by my committee to again invite the attention of ** His Excellency the Governor to the condition of the districts watered by the West River and the piracies committed on that waterway and its tributies, to the
serious obstruction of trade.
at
The despatch of the gunboat "Tweed" and of a torpedo boat hence to the West River hasno doubt had a good effect in some portions of the territory in question, but the
ond length of the river and the numeri creeks preclude such
a small force from having more than a very partial effect.
If the Chinese Authorities could be relied upon
to do their duty and second the efforts made to rid the
country of the lawless characters who batten upon the labours
of the industrious portion of the population, probably
the force sent thither might suffice for the purpose.
Unfortunately, however, the reverse is the case;
nothing is attempted in real earnest by the Chinese officils;
and if the evil is to be rooted out, it seems that it will have
to be done by a British naval patrol..
This being the case, the Committee would
respectfully suggest to His Excellency the Governor the propriet; of still further augmenting the gunboat flotila by getting out
more boats of the "Sandpiper" class, so soon as they can be
procured. Meantime, it might perhaps be practicable to send
armed light draft stean-launches to be attached tothe larger
vessels for use in the shallow waters.
I have etc.
Wilcox,
To
(signed)
R. Chatterton
Secretary.
Honourable Colonial Secretary.