CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 199

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4.

detailed arrangements for carrying it out was a man named T'soi

Wa-tsai, who was recommended by the Police for banishment on the ground that he was a ringleader in the Triad Society, had organised

faction fights and was a danger to the Colony, in 1907 and again

in 1909. He was able to satisfy the Registrar-General in 1907 that

he had been born in Hongkong of parents the subjects of China.

The recommendation for banishment in 1909 was withdrawn by the

Police on this fact, which had been overlooked, being discovered.

The Police reports show that at no time has this man made Hongkong his permanent place of residence. He has been absent for considerable intervals, at one time as a fireman

on board an Ocean-going steamer at other times at Macao and at various places in the Kwangiang Province. He has probably used Hongkong as a base from which to conduct robbery and piracy.

5.

I offered a reward of $2,000 for information

that would lead to the arrest and conviction in Hongkong of any persons who took part in the piracy of the "Tai On". Police informers have traced Tsoi Wa-taai and three other of the pirates to a village not very many miles from our frontier. The information was conveyed to the Police in Canton, who on the 14th. instant sent a force of 1,200 soldiers to deal with a gang of robbers which Taoi and the others had joined. On the 15th. instant twenty men were arrested and sent to Canton for trial. Taoi Wa-tsai was not among the number and it is not certain whether any of the other three were captured. On the approach of the soldiers a gang of robbers, with whom was Tsoi, escaped over the hills into the Tung Kun District looting several villages on their way. The soldiers

are still following them up.

6.

I submit with respect that the exploits of Tsoi Wa-tsai render very desirable the consideration of the question whether power should not be taken to banish, in certain circumstanc- -es, Chinese born in llongkong of parents the subjects of China. Cases are very common in which such Chinese, who have been convict-

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