CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 337

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This was well known to the pirates who were people

of no particular bravery and were dişinclined to attack unless with the odds heavily in their favour.

If the Guilds could suggest any means of improving the status of the officers an these ships, the inducement to piratical attacks would very largely be removed.

In support of his remarks

ks as to the poor quality

of some of the ships officers, he read extracts from

a statement made by the Naval Intelligence Officer before

the Coroner in connection with the Tai Lee Piracy. Could the Guilds do anything to improve the quality or status of these officers?

16. Mr. Watson said that the Guilds were aware that there were cases of this aert, but it was extraordinarily difficult to get evidence.] the only practical suggestion he could make was that the HongKong Govern- ment should make a regulation requiring all ships officers to belong to the Guilds, which could then take disciplinary action when cases of disgraceful conduct

were reported to them.

17.

Mr.Fletcher however considered that the HongKong Government could not do this, as it would be an unjustifiable interference with the liberties of the individual. Under the Piracy Regulations the Government could already refuse to allow the employment of any particular person, but as Mr. Watson had observed this was a very difficult thing to apply in individual cases. 14 Mr.Moore suggested that perhaps the difficulty might be met by the HongKong Government fixing a Port

rate

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