6
2074/1914.
sir,
REC
19603
REG 29 MAY 14
20
GREG 29 MAY 14 House,
Wong King. 9
m
9th May, 1914.
2.
With referense te my senfidential letter of
the 4th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I
have ascertained that the Un-official Hembers of the
Bxoqutive and Legislative Councils are not prepared to vote
the necessary funds for the construction and presentation
to the Naval Authorities of a shallow draft gunboat for the
suppression of piracy in Chinoso waters in the vicinity of
Hongkong. I regret, therefore, that I m unable to recon-
mand to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that this
expenditure should be incurred out of Colonial Funda.
I am of opinion, in which from conversation
with you I believe you concur, that an additional shallow
draft gunboat of the type employed in the Test River is
urgently nanded for patrolling the ostuary of the Pearl
River which four steamers and four large Hongkong licensed
Junks, trading to and from this Colony hava baen pir ted
during the last, 13 months. I attach a list of theso
piracies. This Government has already taken atopa hy
increase of the Police engaged in searching for arms þásaÓN –
gora embarking on River steamers, and by special logislat-
ion which is about to be rada more stringent, and will do
its utmost to ea-operate in the prevention of piracy on
vonsols leaving this port. Trading Junks, however, do not
carry passengers and these were pirated by attacks from
without piratical bosta. It is evident, therefore, that additional
Commodore
R. H. Anstruther, R... C...G.