2.
Decypher of Telegram,
From: 0.in C. China.
To:
Admiralty.
113
Date: 3/4/28.
Reod. 1955.
There are indications of another attempt at piracy
on the high seas. Superintendent Canadian Pacific
Railway at Shanghai has received threatening letters
warning him against carrying Chinese passengers and has had information suggesting that pirates ?(were) recently
carried by a Canadian Pacific Railway Liner from Hong
Kong to Shanghai. Hong Kong also reports that police
information shows that a gang of pirates has recently left
Hong Kong with intention of pirating a vessel southward
bound from Shanghai. This ?(information) cannot be
entirely disregarded.
These vessels carry orow of about
They
?(500) Chinese and have sometimes as many as 700 Chinese passengers travelling between Shanghai and Hong Kong. have only about 30 British Officers and crew indifferently
armed in each vessel so that deliberately organised piracy
is quite a ?(Bossibility). I consider matter serious and
have detailed Naval Guards for ships of this line between
Shanghai and Hong Kong and vice versa. I realise this may be establishing a precedent and that I may get calls from the P. & 0. Co. and other British Lines. It is for consideration whether troops from Hong Kong could not be better employed instead of Naval Guards which can ill be spared from their ordinary ?(duties). It would provide troops with a change of air and scenery at no cost to the Crown. I believe guards of ?(corrupt group) sort are necessary to ensure against a disaster which is quite possible and would be extremely difficult to deal with.
Copies to: Foreign Office,
0044/4.
Colonial Office,
War Office, Air Ministry.