Copy.
Enclosure No. 1.
28th December, 1927.
212
Bias Bay informer states:-
(Hakka)
I am a travelling trader between Hong Kong, Ha
Tsung, Nim Shan, and other places in Bias Bay Area.
On the 1st September British Gunboats set fire and
burnt houses at Fan Jo Kong, Cheung Pai and Wong Kung Chin.
The elders and gentry of these villages held a meeting on the
13th December with intent to ask Lam Tsoi Sau and other
pirate leaders to reimburse them for the houses burnt. Lam
Tsoi Sau who resides at Cheung Pai Village was not to be
found and he is still missing. As a result of this meeting it has been decided that any person or persons who took part in any piracy in the future would be arrested and handed over to
the proper authorities to be dealt with. I cannot say if the elders are in a position to carry this out. I do not know
the names of any who attended, about 200 villagers attended besides the elders. The biggest majority of people are against piracy. Nothing yet has been done by the Chinese
luthorities to suppress piracy in this neighbourhood. There are over ten meeting places at Cheung Pai, Fan o Kong and Nim Shan where pirates obtained their information and arrange for piracies. Pirates are very careful now about information leaking out and everything is very secret on account of the threat by the elders.
About August last General Wu Him sent one of his Officers surnamed LO to raid the pirates, only one pirate named Lam Ming was arrested and he was released on payment of a fine of $800. At present all is quiet and there is no information regarding any piracies. The "Irene" affair has broken the pirates up and the pirates are not collecting.
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