CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 228

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they can readily escape from one District to another, When it is remembered that the West River bounds 13 Districts in Kwang Tung Province alone, the difficulty created by such a regulation is apparent. If Magistrates were empowered to arrest in adjoining Districts in cases of piracy. the efficiency of preventive

measures would be greatly increased. It is on account of the

facility for escape given by the regulation that Kam Obuk and the

Sai Tain Hills near the borders of 4 Districts and Ku Chan, Chiu

Lin, Ho Ting, and Ngoi Hoi near the borders of 3 Districts have

been the .centre and meeting point for the lawless robbers in-

festing the River.

As regards British co-operation, the

Governor has already assured the Viceroy that Her Majesty's Navy

is prepared to co-operate to the fullest extent, and to support

the operations of the Chinese Government forces in the suppres-

sion of piracy without expense to the Viceroy's Government; but

if the absence of effective action by His Excellency's Officials

compels der Majesty's Government to act independently in the

protection of British trade, the Governor cannot assure the

Viceroy that Her Majesty's Government will not make a demand for the expenses incurred in the performance of the duty of securing the safety of person and property that primarily attached to the

Chinese Government. The force to be stationed in the River by the Admiral Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces will be suf- ficient to ensure the success of any operation that may be undertaken, and in carrying out such operations it is expected that His Excellency will detail a force equal to that supplied

by Her Majesty's Navy.

I have etc., (Sd.) F. H. May,

Acting Colonial Secretary.