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are not men-of-war.
They are the "Nessus",
"Onslaught" and the "Falconer", which have for some time been used by the British Government on the West River for anti-piracy work. They are now under charter to the Admiralty, but the Canton Government might be able to arrange for taking over the remaining period of the charter and for the purchase
of the armaments thereon from the British Government.
Now that Marshal Li is taking up the piracy problem with vigour, he may like to take over these launches.
The British Government did the work before, simply
because in the past few years the Canton Government did not do anything.
MARSHAL LI requests the Hong Kong Government to enquire
what the residue of the existing charter is; for what period the owners would be prepared to give a
fresh charter: and what the cost of the existing
armaments would be. The Canton Government would
prefer to buy the armaments on the launches, and
would like the charter to be for not more than three
years.
Piracy.
HIS EXCELLENCY expressed his pleasure that General Tsui
King-tong will soon undertake in person the work of
eliminating the pirates from Bias Bay and Swabue.
He wishes General Tsuż every success.
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