WR CONFIDENTIAL.
207
45257
PEC
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG.
14th October, 1914.
510
|
Sir,
16-231-4
234 In continuation of my confidential despatch of the
4th of June, I have the honour to inform you that in addition to the 17 persons mentioned therein as under arrest for complicity in the attempt to pirate the S.S."Tai On", six more arrests were made in Macao, the persons being extradited to Hongkong.
It was impossible to obtain sufficient evidence to secure conviction of these persons in the Hongkong Courts, and the same remark applies to those of the 17 mentioned in my despatch above referred to who were still under arrest in Hongkong.
2.
In the special circumstances of the case I handed the whole of the prisoners over to the Chinese Authorities, who after a most patient and exhaustive trial have now reported that 17 of the 23 accused have been found guilty and were shot on the 22nd ultimo, while 4 are remanded for further enquiries. Two of the accused turned King's evidence. One is retained in Hongkong where he has given much useful information while the other is retained by the Chinese Authorities.
3.
I may mention here that 9 charred bodies were found in the chain locker of the wreck of the "Tai On". One of these was identified as that of the lamp trimmer who smuggled on board the pirates' arms. Five of the bodies bore bullet wounds and were those apparently of pirates who took part in the attack.
HE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.
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