CO129-117 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 511

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

of the Provinces has fallen into disorder & been greatly demoralized

At the present moment,

therefore,

& under these circumstances I scarcely think

any measure for the general disarmament of all native vessels

could be fitly insisted upon, even were it better calculated to attain the end in view. While the Chinese forces are consciously and manifestly incapable of affording by their own cruisers efficient protection to traders, there will be palpable injustice,

as well as impolicy,

in any general measure of this kind. It would, on the other hand, amount to disarming the honest trader and offering a direct encouragement to piracy by leaving him an easier prey. The pirates would always be the last to be reached by any disarming process.

As the Imperial Government gains strength and the embers of insurrection are extinguished,

order may be expected to return, and

the main cause of piracy, viz., the overflow of a starving and ruined population, will cease. That a large number of pirates will still continue in the dangerous cliques, never very large or small in number but very closely guarded, is unfortunately true. But the recruits gained will be diminished, and more effective steps taken both on the part of British authorities and the native Government, we may fairly hope that within a very few years piracy in the Chinese seas, if not entirely suppressed, may be reduced.

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of the Provinces has fallen into disorder & been greatly demoralized At the present moment, therefore, & under these circumstances I scarcely think any measure for the general disarmament of all native vessels could be fitly insisted upon, even were it better calculated to attain the end in view. While the Chinese forces are consciously and manifestly incapable of affording by their own cruisers efficient protection to traders, there will be palpable injustice, as well as impolicy, in any general measure of this kind. It would, on the other hand, amount to disarming the honest trader and offering a direct encouragement to piracy by leaving him an easier prey. The pirates would always be the last to be reached by any disarming process. As the Imperial Government gains strength and the embers of insurrection are extinguished, order may be expected to return, and the main cause of piracy, viz., the overflow of a starving and ruined population, will cease. That a large number of pirates will still continue in the dangerous cliques, never very large or small in number but very closely guarded, is unfortunately true. But the recruits gained will be diminished, and more effective steps taken both on the part of British authorities and the native Government, we may fairly hope that within a very few years piracy in the Chinese seas, if not entirely suppressed, may be reduced. Page 508

Baseline (Original)

of the Provinces has fallen into disorder & been greatly demoralized At the present moment therefore & under these circumstances I scarcel think any messure for the gener of disarinement of all native resels could be fitly insisted upon even were it better calculated to attain the End. in view. While the Chinese foot is conscionaly maiinfectly incapable of affording by own Cruisers Efficient protection to to traders there w? be palpable injustice well Measure ho ho impolicy it Any general of this kind. It we answer! } other End them to disarm the honest trader and offer a direct Encouragement to Piracy by Leaving him 508 him an easier section. The Porates would always be the tart to be reached by any disarming process. As the fentel Gro= gains strength and the embers of insurrection are extinguished, be expected to return and order may the main cause I furacy in the overflow of a serving and ruined population will cease. That a large feeder will stile contime in the dangerous claper, never very or small in number of very closely guarded is unfortunately to time. Pout the recruite grand with be diminished, and para pason more effective steftrate taken broth on the part of Beige downs and the native Goot, we may fairly hope that within a very few years piracy in the China deas if not any few years entirely suffereped may be reduces を

2026-05-19 13:51:04 · Baseline

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of the Provinces has fallen into disorder & been greatly demoralized

At the present moment

therefore

& under these circumstances I scarcel

think

any messure for the gener of disarinement of all native

resels

could be fitly insisted upon even were it better calculated to attain the End. in view. While the Chinese foot is conscionaly maiinfectly incapable of affording by

own

Cruisers Efficient protection to to traders there w? be palpable injustice

well

Measure

impolicy

Any general

of this kind. It we answer!

}

other End them to disarm the

honest trader and offer a direct Encouragement to Piracy by Leaving

him

508

him an easier section. The Porates would always be the tart to be reached by any disarming process. As the fentel Gro= gains strength and the embers of insurrection are extinguished,

be expected to return and

order

may the main cause

I furacy in the overflow of a serving and ruined population will cease. That a large feeder will stile contime in the dangerous claper, never very

small in

number of very closely guarded is unfortunately to time. Pout the recruite grand with be diminished, and para pason more effective steftrate taken broth on the part of Beige downs and the native Goot, we may fairly hope that within a very few years piracy in the China deas if not any few years entirely suffereped may be reduces

CO129-117 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 511

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