CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 216

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COP I.

No. 215,

Correspondence regarding Saffiancion

of Piracy

13320

Rece

30 APR 00 215

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Hongkong, 9th. February, 1900.

sir,

I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to

request you, now that the New Year's Ceremonies are over, to convey to the Viceroy his congratulations on His Excellency's assumption of the Government of the two Provinces.

2.

The question of the piracies on the West River is of pressing importance and the Governor hopes that the Viceroy is now prepared to take the necessary steps to deal with it, in doing which the Governor again offers the hearty co-operation of Her Majesty's Navy..

3.

To deal effectively with the cases of fast Steal-

launches such as have been pirated from time to time it will be

necessary to have still faster boats on the river. There are at

present lying idle at Whampoa nine Torpedo Boats, which could be

armed with light guns and placed upon the river. The two larger

ones might be provided with accommodation for two foreigners who

if the Viceroy desired might be employed to direct operations and

drill the men. Those are details that might be settled in consul-

tation with an Officer of Her Majesty's Navy if the Viceroy will

be pleased to direct one of his Officials to meet and consult with

an Officer of Her Majesty's Navy who will be specially selected.

In his conversation with the Governor on the 15th.

January

4.

Britannic Majesty's Consul,

CANTO N.