THE COMMODORE, HONG KONG'S LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 1934.
(The Commodore, Hong Kong's No.H.K.960/1 of
11th June, 1934).
II
No.1058/2336.
THE SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY.
(Copy to:-~ The Commodore, Hong Kong.)
Lordships.
Forwarded for the information of Their
2. With reference to the failure of the S.S. KANCHOW to communicate on her arrival at Swatow, referred to in paragraph 3 of Minute I, His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai has, at my request, recently called the attention of the Shanghai agents of the British shipping companies to the slackness of their vessels in complying with the instructions laid down in the anti-piracy W/T communication scheme, and it is hoped that this will result in a considerable improvement.
3. The failure of the "Norviken" to communicate, which is referred to in the same paragraph, is of particular interest, since this ship was recently pirated, with British passengers on board. It is very regrettable that British shipping companies find it necessary to charter these Norwegian vessels. The owners have, up to the present, refused to allow these ships to carry guards and it now appears that they make little effort to obtain such security as is afforded by the W/T communication scheme.
British subjects run considerable risk in travelling as passengers in these vessels a fact of which they well may be ignorant when booking their passage with a British company. Following personal dis- cussions between H.M.Minister and myself, the Minister has now requested His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai to reopen the question of the provision of guards with the shipping companies concerned.
(agd.) FRED. C. DREYER
ADMIRAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
H.M.S. "SUFFOLK" at Weinaiwei.
2nd July, 1934.
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