CO129-295 - Public Offices - 1899 — Page 505

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On the 7th November, 1898, I reported to Sir Claude MacDonald on the piracy of a launch flying the British flag, and on the subject of piracy in this province generally. In that case there was a question as to the right of the launch, which was owned by Chinese in Hong Kong, to fly the British flag. No claim was made, and, to the best of my belief, nothing was done to punish the offenders or to recover the loot.

To my report above mentioned I received a reply, dated the 28th November, 1898 informing me that the Tsung-li Yamên had directed the Viceroy to take stringent measures for the suppression of piracy, but no notice was apparently taken, and on the 31st January I again reported to Sir C. MacDonald a sanguinary piracy on the coast near Hong Kong, and two attempts, happily nipped in the bud, at piracy of the British steamer "Lungshan." In August last year an Englishman at Whampoa had his house broken into by armed robbers, who wounded him severely. For this a sum of 2,000 dollars compensation was demanded and paid. On the 6th April armed robbers took two bales of yarn out of a foreign-owned boat within a mile of this Concession: and about the same time a wealthy Portuguese subject of Chinese origin, living in the suburb of Canton, had his house entered by armed robbers, and 10,000 taels worth of jewellery, &c., carried off. The above are cases which have come to my notice officially, but Chinese cases of the kind are of daily occurrence, and I am not exaggerating in saying that a reign of terror exists which is seriously injuring trade. The head-quarters of the pirates on the West River are well-known, and I have indicated them to the Viceroy, but nothing has been done, and it is currently reported that the local authorities on the West River are subsidized by the pirates to wink at what is going on.

I would most earnestly represent that in the case of the "Wo-on" the nationality of the owners of the property should not be taken into account, but simply the fact that the property was under the protection of the British flag. The case has, I believe, been brought to the notice of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, who are waiting to see what action will be taken, and, although I am quite aware you would not allow yourself to be influenced by it, I believe popular feeling would be very strong if the claims of the Chinese passengers in a British vessel were ignored.

I have the honour to inclose copies and translations of the correspondence which has passed between the Viceroy and myself on this subject.

I have, &c. (Signed)

(Translation.) Your Excellency,

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Consul Mansfield to Viceroy T'an.

R. W. MANSFIELD.

Canton, May 25, 1899. I HAVE received from Messrs. Banker and Co., British merchants, a Petition complaining that their steamer "Wo-on" was on the 23rd instant seized near Kum Chuk by a band of twenty-four robbers, and taken to Ku Chen, in the neighbourhood of Kong Mun, where goods, money and arms to the value of over 7,000 dollars were put into boats which were there awaiting them and landed. The vessel then returned towards Kun Chuk, and, half-an-hour after starting, met the patrol launch "Ko Lu," to whom they reported what had happened. The launch at once proceeded to the spot.

I have already more than once addressed your Excellency with regard to the numerous robberies and piracies on the West and North Rivers, and your Excellency has informed me that most stringent measures were being taken to put a stop to them. That a band of twenty-four armed robbers should in open daylight take possession of British vessel, and with the assistance of others from the shore in four boats carry off everything of value on board, is clear proof that the officials concerned have wilfully ignored your Excellency's instructions, and if this state of things is allowed to continue, trade on the Kuangtung waterways will be entirely paralyzed. I have reported this case by telegram to Her Majesty's Minister, and have also requested Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" to proceed with an officer of this Consulate to Ku Chen to make inquiries. The patrol launch "Ko Lu," if it had acted promptly, should, with the assistance of the local authorities, have been able to discover the whereabouts of the robbers and their booty. I have the honour to request that your Excellency will take vigorous steps to break up this and other bands of robbers which infest the rivers, and give orders that the property stolen be either recovered or their value made good to Messrs. Banker and Co., a copy of whose Petition is inclosed. The steam-ship "Wo-on" will be in Canton on

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the 27th instant, and it would, I think, be advisable that your Excellency should depute an officer to interrogate the master and crew with a view to obtaining some clue to the identity of the robbers.

I trust that your Excellency will appreciate the great importance of promptitude in dealing with this case in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.

I have, &c.

Sir,

(Signed)

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Viceroy T'an to Consul Mansfield.

R. W. MANSFIELD.

Canton, May 28, 1899.

I AM in receipt of your despatch informing me of the piracy committed near Kong-moon on the 23rd instant upon the steamer "Wo On," belonging to the British firm Banker and Co.

I have recorded a grave dereliction of duty against the civil and military officials concerned, upon whom a limit of time has been imposed, within which they must effect the capture of the pirates.

I have, &c.

(Translation.) Your Excellency,

Inclosure 4 in No. 1.

Consul Mansfield to Viceroy Tan.

(Seal of Viceroy.)

Canton, June 1, 1899. I HAD the honour to address you on the 25th May with regard to the piracy of the British steamer "Wo On," and I received your answer of the 28th May to the effect that you had recorded a grave dereliction of duty against the civil and military officials concerned, and had imposed on them a limit of time within which to rigorously effect the arrests.

Since then, I have summoned the master and compradore of the "Wo On,” and, from their evidence, it appears that, just after the seizure of the vessel, torpedo-boat No. 3 passed within 40 feet of her, and though the British flag was hoisted upside down as a signal of distress, and signs were made to her to give assistance, she took no notice. She was towing a boat at the time, and this is, I am informed, the principal occupation of these torpedo-boats, which your Excellency has directed to patrol the river for the suppression of piracy.

Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper," with an officer from this Consulate, proceeded to the spot where the goods were landed, on the 25th instant. They saw the patrol-boat "Ko Lu," and were informed by the Captain that, after meeting the "Wo On," they had been to the spot, but had not landed. They had apparently done nothing towards the arrest of the pirates. The captain of the gun-boat and my deputy also visited the Chai Lieu Ssü, who was quite aware of the piracy, but stated that he had no force at his disposal to enable him to take any action.

I have received telegraphic instructions from my Minister that unless the robbers are promptly arrested and punished, and all the stolen property recovered, I am to ask your Excellency to order the officials, whose guilty negligence is responsible for this outrage, to make compensation through me to the British vessel.

Nine days have now elapsed since the occurrence, and I have no information of any action having been taken. The place is at no great distance from Canton, and I have the honour to ask that your Excellency will speedily inform me what steps are being taken to bring the pirates to justice. A band of some forty men, with a considerable quantity of money and other property must be easy to trace if any bona fide effort is made.

I have, &c.

(Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.