194
(iv)
3.
Protection of trade is fundamentally the duty of the Government. Certain fims claim that, being registered in the United Kingdom and paying full income tax, they are thereby specially entitled to protection.
The remarks of the Anti-Piracy Committee on
these four points are given below in detail.
4.
11
(i) Native guards have so far proved generally untrustworthy and inefficient. Effective Native guards are not obtainable".
This subject has been fully discussed with the
HongKong Police authorities, who have always, hitherto,
been entrusted with enrolment and training of Indians
for piracy-guard duties.
5.
They state that a requi site number of Indian
Guards, say 300, could not he recruited at short notice
in Hongkong to replace British Guards, but that it is
probable that sufficient men could be enrolled at
Singapore in a few months, as there are large numbers of
ex Indian soldiers there who find it hard to get
employment.
Failing that, it is certain that, with
advertisement, it would be possible to get time-expired
men from India. In this case it would be advisable to
enlist the co-operation of Indian Army authorities.
6.
The Hong kong Police agree that it is the best
policy for them to be in charge of the guards as they
already have the machinery for dealing with armed guards
and watchmen, They are, moreover, responsible for the
antecedents of all persons coming into the Colony and are
anxious to prevent the entry of unde sirables.