22
N
of an internal type. Plans were obviously well laid
beforehand, but to be successful, the landing of hostages
and booty, and of course the pirates themselves had to
be ensured.
6. The prevention of these landings would probably
put an end to piracy altogether, and it was in this
particular sphere that the Chinese could be most helpful
in co-operation.
7.
Pirates had frequently used the coast between
Bias Bay and Chilang Point on which to land, and therefore
this area and the hinterland was the one to concentrate on.
8.
It was realised that the Nanking Government
were alive to the fact that measures must be taken for the
suppression of piracy and had issued regulations for the
capture of pirates and the protection of vessels, and the
Kwangtung Government had recently agreed to these
regulations.
I quoted from these regulations as follows:-
Article 2 states that the Coastguard service
42
under the Ministry of the Navy shall be responsible for
the capture of pirates and the protection of vessels so
far as water routes are concerned. As regards the land
and the islands and the waters adjacent thereto, the
Water and Land Police belonging to the Police organs of
the Civil provinces along the coast shall be responsible
under the superintendence of the Ministry of the Interior,
and shall, as the occasion may arise, report to the
Ministry of the Interior.
Article 3 states that in all waters where piracy
has previously occurred, the coastguard shall despatch a
vessel.
Article 4, that warships shall co-operate and
assist to the fullest extent.
19.