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notionality are searched by law. In any case, it is suggested that the practicel difficulties of thorough searching say 1500 Chinese deck passengers, with all their enormous quantities of luggage, are not realised and it can be said to be almost an impossibility. As an illustration of this, when the trouble occurred in the early months of 1927 at Hankow, in order to prevent the carringe of Chine se soldiers, the examination of passengers was undertaken by H.H. Novy end was only accomplished with the utmost difficulty, and at times was found to be impossible with any degree of effectiveness. Moreover, to try to search thoroughly large numbers of Chine se passengers on embarkation, would inevitably detain steamers unduly. tion during voyages does take place s far as practicable, in the course of searches for opium, contrabend, etc.
Examina-
The Hongkong police do not search the emigrant steamers proceeding direct to Singapore, presumably realising its impracticability, and Singapore is not included in the Ordinance mentioned previously, though the lost serious birey was on a steamer coming up from that port.
At Singapore, the police attend at the wharf when coolies are being omberked, and we believe plain clothes men mix in the crowd, but adequate searching is impracticable, and in this respect the "Anking" piracy affords en illustration. Should the Straits Government ass an Ordinance somewhat on the lines of the Hongkong Ordinance covering the searching of ships, it is cossible something botter might be achieved at Singapore then is the crse et present.
At Bangkok, police are on duty at the gangways of ell steamers embarking corlie pssengers for Ching and lthough their search of luggage ropears perrunetary, the Siame se police, nevertheless, do have knowledge of the movements of Chinese in their territory in consequence of the recently enacted Immigration Law.
6. (e) As stated by the anti-piracy Committec, the Hongkong police at present do co-operate with other authorities at various ports and useful information has been forthcoming. H.M.Consuls at various China cost ports can be approached, but it is knknown to us how far they are likely to be in a position to obtain useful information. There is no British Consul et Hoihow, a sort within the so-called piracy zone.
(b) Shipping agents and compradores always do, of course, pass on any information they may receive, but this is rre and they have little means of gathering any news likely to be of volue. Full advantage is taken of any opportunity offering.
The work done by Novel atrols is certainly appreciated but it is questionable whether they can be said to afford direct protection against piracy. After a piracy has occurred, the appearance of a worship would probably be the signal for the mosseare of all the British personnel on board the tire tea vessel concerned.
8.
It is noted the present intention is that the provision of Navel and Military guards to British merchant ships will continue until 1st April 1930. In this connection, it is urge d that the numbers of men available for escorts may be rugmented so as to make vossible the rovision of quards to British ships still being compelled to run without. Moreover, as is no
doubt /