Copy.
No.1 in 4101/1910III.
Government House,
Hong Kong, 3rd March, 1928.
8
Sir,
In continuation of my letter No.1 in 4101/1910 of 16th February, 1928, I have the honour to inform you that
after consultation with my Executive Council I am prepared to recommend to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council
that such supplementary supply should be provided as will
enable the Government to contribute towards the cost of the
Patrol of Armed Launches on the West River, a sun equal to
one half of the hiring and operating costs, exclud ing
personnel, of the three launches at present in commission for
the year March 1928 to March 1929.
As you know for the year 1927-1928 the agreed
contribution has been 2100 per launch per month. I am unaware
of the precise figures entailed by the above proposal, but
from the enclosure in your letter No.H.K.036/2649 of 18th
November, I assume that it will be approximately 2133 per
month for H.M.S. "Faulknor" and H.K.S. "Onslaught" and a
somewhat smaller sua in respect of H.H.S. "Nessus". I should
be obliged if you could inform me of the precise figures,
calculated upon the basis proposed in the first paragraph of
this letter.
With reference to your letter No.H.K.056/2786
of 8th December, 1927, and the enclosure thereto, I regret
The Commodore-in-Charge,
Commodore's Office,
Hong Kong.
that
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that this Government finds it impossible to agree to the suggestion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that this Government should ultimately bear the entire cost of
hire and maintenance of these launches, the entire cost of
Chinese personnel, and half the cost of naval personnel. Nor can this Government agree to a contribution of $200 per month per launch for the forthcoming year 1928-1929.
I may say that Harshal Li Chai-sum (15K IT.)
has announced his intention of eliminating pirates and
brigands from the West River delta and that, if he is as
good as his word, the necessity for continuing the British patrol of armed launches may soon cease. But until he acts
with energy in this matter, I consider that it would be a
great, mistake to discontinue our patrol.
I have, &c.,
(Sd.) C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, &c.
age 9
age 9