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5. This method would, it is considered, be the most effective for the work and act as the greatest deterrent against future piracies.
6. As regards a combined Naval and Military operation, this could be arranged
if authorised by his Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, and as far as the Navy is concerned would entail—
(a.) Transport for troops.
(b.) Disembarking and re-embarking them on and from the beaches.
(c) Covering their landing and supporting them with gunfire as inay be required,
The details of this could be arranged after consultation between the Naval and Military staffs as to landing places and objectives after landing.
7. The craft which would be available would depend on the season of the year, and during summer months it is improbable a cruiser would be available.
8. I am discussing this question of a combined punitive expedition with his Excellency the General Officer Commanding, China Command, with a view to formulating a suitable plan, but it would not be possible to put such a plan into operation until the present Standing Instructions issued for the guidance of Commanders-in-Chief, and Senior Officers on the China station, issued by the Admiralty are materially altered.
9. It is appreciated that the unstable conditions in China at the present time render the present instructions impractical to a certain extent, but in view of the radical principles underlying these instructions, it is not possible to make any departure from them unless authorised by their Lordships.
I have, &c. (Signed) A. J. B. STIRLING, Commodore.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 4.
10ficer Commanding Troops, Hong Kong, to Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, June 25, 1926.
In the event of another piracy taking place against a British ship at Bias Bay, ur in the vicinity of Hong Kong, I understand it is the intention of his Excellency to deal summarily with the matter. I have the honour to state that from a military point of view the operation would appear to be simple, subject to a cruiser or a commandeered ship being available to take the troops without delay to the scene of the piracy.
So far as one can foresee, the number of men necessary for this operation would be roughly two companies of British troops, strength-220. Two days' rations would be carried, and it would be advisable to have the support of Naval fire in case the landing was opposed.
British troops at Hong Kong (East Surreys) have already been trained for this type of operation and would be ready to embark fully equipped, &c., within two hours of the warning being issued either by day or night.
The authority of the War Office is necessary for this operation, and to avoid any bitch if at any future time a piracy takes place, it would appear advisable to obtain War Office authority without delay.
I have, &c.
(Signed) F. S. MONTAGUE-BATES, Lieutenant-Colonel.
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APPENDIX II.
Governor, Hong Kong, to Secretary of State for the Colonies. (C.O. No. C. 187690.) Sir,
Hong Kong, August 28, 1926. WITH reference to my secret despatch of the 30th June on the subject of the Bias Bay pirates, I have the honour to inform you that two further outrages have recently been committed by these pirates.
2. The Norwegian steamship Sandviken," chartered by the Soviet Trading Company, known locally as the Bolshy Company," which some time ago opened offices in Canton and Swatow, left Canton for Swatow at 9 AM. on the 21st August with about 120 passengers and general cargo. At about 7:15 P.M. on the same day, when south of Hong Kong, some forty pirates, who came aboard the vessel at Canton disguised as passengers, and who were armed with revolvers anl knives, took forcible possession of the ship, cut the wireless apparatus, obliged the captain to proceed to Bias Bay, and there looted the ship and the passengers. The pirates released the ship at 6 A.M. on the 22nd August, and she then proceeded to Swatow, where she arrived at 6 P.M. on the same day with crew and passengers all safe. The first news of the affair received in this Colony was a telegram despatched from Swatow by steamship Sandviken" to Messrs. Wallem and Co. in Hong Kong at 6 P.M. on the 22nd August; but this news was not transmitted by Messrs. Wallem and Co. to this Government until the 24th August. The steamship "Sandviken is registered in Bergen, Norway.
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3. The steamship Hoinam," a small Chinese-owned steamer, which plies between Canton and Swabue (Shanmei), left the latter port at noon on the 23rd August, and after the usual stop at Ma Kung, when off Bias Bay, she was seized by some thirty armed pirates, who had come aboard as passengers, taken into Bias Bay and looted. The pirates left the ship in small boats, which they met at a pre-arranged spot, and released her. The steamship "Hoinam then continued her voyage, passing south- ward of Hong Kong, direct to Canton, whence the first news of the affair reached Hong Kong on the 27th August.
4. Another recent piracy, which took place quite close to Hong Kong, was that of the steamship Kwong Lee," owned by the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company. She was en route from Shanghai to Canton, and passed south of Hong Kong in the morning of the 13th July. When she was entering the Canton River a number of pirates, disguised as passengers, seized her and took her to Ngai Mun, in the delta, where they looted and disabled her. The ship, after the pirates left her, managed to get under way again at 6 P.M. on the 15th July and proceeded direct to Canton, where the first report of the occurrence was made.
5. In none of these cases has the Canton Government taken any steps to trace the pirates or to act against the pirate bases, which are well known; and it is clear that, if piracies of ever-increasing number and daring are not to be committed in and around the waters of this Colony, we must ourselves take steps to make the pirate bases in Bias Bay and in the Canton River delta unsafe as centres from which these operations can be planned and executed. I trust, therefore, that the recommendations made in my secret despatch of the 30th June, if not yet acted upon when this despatch reaches you, may be approved as early as possible and that telegraphic instructions on the subject may be sent to me.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
C. CLEMENTI.
Governor, &c.
Appendix I.
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