CO129-404 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [10-12] — Page 290

Copy.

No.167.

Sir,

со

17258285

"Minotaur" at Hong Kong AY 13

21

8th April 1913.

xcellency

With regard to the recent "Tai-on" piracy case,

I have the honour to furnish Your Excellency with the following remarks on the naval measures adopted for the

patrol of the West River, and the waterways between

Hong Kong, Canton and Macao.

2.- The vessels employed consist of three river

gunboats, which remain permanently in the West River, only

visiting Hong Kong for rafit, or on other exceptional

occasions, and four torpedo boats, two of which are

always on patrol duty, the other two baing at Hong Kong.

3.- The patrol is divided into the following sections:-

(a) Between Kongmoon and Wangmoon

(b) Delta between Wangmoon and Samshui.

(c) Between Samshui and Wuchow

4.-

..

2 torpedo boats.

1 gunboat.

2 gunboats.

The powers vested in Commanding Officers of the patrol vessels may be summarised as follows :-

(a) If a vessel is suspected to be piratical she may

be examined, and if there are strong grounds for supposing

that such is the case she may be detained.

(b) Officers may use force when fired upon;

or,

when a piracy is actually seem to take place, to effect the destruction or capture of the pirates.

(c) Landing in Chinese territory in pursuit of or search for pirates is strictly forbid ten.

5.- Reports are received monthly from the patrolling vessels as to the state of security of traffic, and also

on all matters of interest, together with details of their movoments and proceedings during the previous month.

Sir Francis H.May,

Governor and Commander-in-Chiaf,

K.C.H.G.

Hong Kong.

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