CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 118

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Piracy and River Patrol.

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26 JAN 09.

The case of the piracy of a junk in Hongkong wat-

ers referred to in last Quarter's Intelligence Report

has not yet been satisfactorily dealt with.

The

Chinese authorities confess themselves unable to dis-

cover either the culprits or the whereabouts of the

kidnapped man.

The flagrant case which occurred in the harbour

off Honam Point within 300 yards of Shameen resulted

in the degradation of Colonel Fung Ying Shum on whom

the responsibility was fastened.

There is no doubt that cases of piracy are still

of frequent occurrence in the delta, and it is doubtful

whether the measures heretofore taken to suppress them

are particularly effective. Since the disappearance

of the British and other foreign flags from the smaller

craft plying in the Canton and West Rivers less is

heard of piratical attacks, but Steamer Captains have

reported on several occasions during the past quarter

attacks which they have witnessed from the decks of

their vessels when they have been powerless to inter-

fere owing to the narrowness of the stream.

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