CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 419

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her to seize a native passenger boat in tow of the steam launch Kwong-fat." The latter cut the tow rope and made good her escape.

Chu Tou Shan, mentioned above, has been the scene of several piracies during the past year; and it is to this place that steamers and launches seized at other points on the West River, are taken and abandoned.

The "Cheong Kong" piracy will probably form the subject of a representation to the Viceroy, with a claim for compensation, but I have no hope that the Chinese authorities will depart from their usual rule and take any effective steps in the matter.

I venture to suggest that the only way to effectually put a stop to these constantly recurring outrages and break up these bands of robbers who are now preying on the commerce of the West River, is for our gunboats (if desired, in conjunction with Chinese gunboats) to proceed, in this case, to Ho-tong, summon the head men either to produce the pirates living in their district or to pay a heavy fine, failing which, and twelve hours' notice being given, their village should be bombarded and destroyed.

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