CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 249

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Rec?

&

Prc 30 APR 00

:

SIT,

HongKong General Chamber of Commerce.

HongKong, 21st. September, 1899.

I am directed by my committee to again invite the attention of ** His Excellency the Governor to the condition of the districts watered by the West River and the piracies committed on that waterway and its tributies, to the

serious obstruction of trade.

at

The despatch of the gunboat "Tweed" and of a torpedo boat hence to the West River hasno doubt had a good effect in some portions of the territory in question, but the

ond length of the river and the numeri creeks preclude such

a small force from having more than a very partial effect.

If the Chinese Authorities could be relied upon

to do their duty and second the efforts made to rid the

country of the lawless characters who batten upon the labours

of the industrious portion of the population, probably

the force sent thither might suffice for the purpose.

Unfortunately, however, the reverse is the case;

nothing is attempted in real earnest by the Chinese officils;

and if the evil is to be rooted out, it seems that it will have

to be done by a British naval patrol..

This being the case, the Committee would

respectfully suggest to His Excellency the Governor the propriet; of still further augmenting the gunboat flotila by getting out

more boats of the "Sandpiper" class, so soon as they can be

procured. Meantime, it might perhaps be practicable to send

armed light draft stean-launches to be attached tothe larger

vessels for use in the shallow waters.

I have etc.

Wilcox,

To

(signed)

R. Chatterton

Secretary.

Honourable Colonial Secretary.