CO129-107 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [10-12] — Page 186

4.

184

opposite the N.K. Coast of brong trong Kowloon town in Chinese territory, and which has always had a bed reputation is intermediately and very conveniently placed for piratical operations of Air's Bay against Hong Kong. On more than one recasion pirate pinks have been captured by been previously warned

M

whose crews had

warned by overland

messengers, and even

by night,

have

signal fires denoting the getting under, weigh of a Sunbret here been shown. Once, at least bo

Ch

pirates, who had escaped from Sunbort exfely concealed themselves

at that how, and head men, when

£

I

Officers

clearly found implicated in firatiesé proceedings, have offered bribes for impurity, not knowing that our withority to act in — reality only extends under ordinary circumstances to the "high seas" The bead. men when spoken to on

do

the subject of firacy, or not attempt denish, but allege, whether truly or falsely, that they

are powerless to take any preventive steps.

Under these circumstances

consideration

I bey to propose for your whether it would be expedient to apply to the Nice Pory for

active measures on

some

his fart. I

consider that at present our measures