CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3] — Page 242

From Acting Viceroy Te.

Sir,

C. O.

5529

240

RECO

TE IS FEB

COPY.

10th January, 1900.

I am in receipt of your despatch of the 23rd ultimo, embodying a communication from the Governor of Hong Kong stating that, although piracy was very prevalent upon the West and North Rivers, the proposal that the vessels should start in fleets was impracticable, as the vessels started from and plied to different places, and the time of detentions in each case was different, that, with a view to the suppression of piracy, His Excellency suggested that I should send an official to consult measures with the officer commanding H.M.S.; that, as regards the cases of cattle lifting, His Excellency had to request me to order the officials concerned to make a genuine effort to recover them or their value.

Referring to the archives in connection with the cattle robberies, I find that some days ago the Ying德縣 (Ying Te Hsien), Mr. Lù reported the circumstances connected with the arrest of some of the criminals, and the steps taken for the recovery of the cattle. This was communicated to you with a request that you would order the person robbed to report the facts connected with the robbery to the Magistrate. The Magistrate was also ordered to rigorously arrest the robbers, to punish them according to law, and to recover the booty.

Pirates