CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 615

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608

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kept in check by the very vigorous steps taken by

the Chinese gunboats, srmed launches and troops.

I feel sure that in many of the wilder

places practically all the inhabitants would, if the

occasion occurred, be pirates, especially in the Fu Tiu Man and Ngao un districts, and that in all pro- bability the so-called Chinese troops in these dis- tricts are in league with the pirates, which accounts for the frequent petty robberies from launches, etc.

1.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CHECKING PIRACIES.

I have for some time been of opinion that

Torpedo-boats should patrol between Wangrun and

Lantau during fine weather, but in view of the sudden

changes often experienced this is hardly practicable. I therefore suggest the building of two good solid launches of about 40-50 tons displacement, after the

style of the Chinese Customs armed launches which sometimes make fast to buoys off Blue Buildings at

Hongkong. The dimensions should be roughly as follows:

60 to 70 feet

Length

Breadth

15 to 18 feet

Draught

Speed

not more than 6 feet

at least 12 knots, preferably more.

Their armament should consist of a 3 or 6 pounder for

attacking piratical junks which have got into shallow

water out of the way of their pursuers, and in addi-

tion two maxims. They should also be fitted with an

electric projector the acetylene type not being strong enough to be of any practical use.

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Possibly

1