Sir,
M. 1188/34
70
18th April,
4
With reference to Colonial Office Letter to the Board of Trade of the 14th March, No. 33755/34, forwarding copies of
correspondence with the Governor of Hong Kong concerning the protection against piracy of ships trading in Chinese waters, I an commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the dmiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Board of Trade, that whilst they are still of the opinion that ships trading anywhere
in China should be fitted with grilles and supplemented where practicable with an armed guard, They feel that the views of the Admiralty and the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, are so well- known to all the shipping companies concerned and are so diume tri-
cally opposite to the views held by those firms, that no useful purpose would be served by pressing this matter on them.
In this connection My Lords observe that the Governor
of Hong Kong in his letter of the 25th January states that the percentage of vessels holding Hong Kong Fassenger Certificates which are fitted with grilles is estimated to be about 75, and this being so, it would seem better to leave the remaining 250 to fit the grilles voluntarily if they wish to do so. Further,
as the Governor points out, if compulsion was introduced, it
might raise the question of the responsibility of the authorities concerned in providing other measures, if, for example, the
erilles proved ineffective.
Copies of this letter have been sent to the Foreign
Office und Colonial Office.
I am, Sir,
The Secretary
BOLR OF TRE
1.
Your obedient Servant,
û
S. BARNES
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