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Staff, and invited them to comment on them and to co-operate
in implementing them.
3. The Shipping Companies forwarded their comments to
the Commander-in-Chief, who requested the anti-Piracy
Committee at Hong Kong to examine them carefully, and, as a
fesult, the considered opinion of this Committee, which was
endorsed by the Commander-in-Chief, was communicated to the
Shipping Companies on the 28th August, 1929. then forwarding
these, the Commander-in-Chief informed the Companies that it
devolved upon them to develop and regulate their own anti-
piracy precautions as best suits their own type of vessels
and the services upon which they are employed.
4. It would, therefore, seem that if after april next
the British ships are left without adequate protection, as
stated in the letter addressed to the Prime Minister dated
21st November, it will be largely due to the reluctance of the
Shipping Companies to implement the advice given and
recommendations which have been made to them.
5. The opinion has been expressed that the Indian
Guards which are provided from Hong Kong are of doubtful valu
for preventing piracy. Whilst Their Lordships do not
entirely dispute this point if Indian guards of the present
type alone are provided, they are of the opinion that if
properly ...