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21.
In commenting on this statement the Governor of Hong Kong has written as follows:-
"It should be understood that these remarks do not
whose apply to the well run European-controlled ships, immunity from attack by pirates is probably due to the knowledge that the regulations are properly complied with, but to the Chinese owned vessels which carry British officers merely in order to comply with the conditione requisite to obtain registration in Hong Kong". 22. We consider that if the Guilds concerned could contrive, by negotiation with the ship owners concerned, to improve the status of the officers in these badly managed ships, so that they would be in a position to enforce and maintain proper discipline, the risk of piracy would be greatly lessened.
23. The fourth resolution was to the effect that all vessels subject to Piracy Regulations should have wirelese telegraph apparatus installed, under the control of a competent operator signed on the Articles.
We not only agree that the chances of dealing success- fully with any piratical attack would be greatly increased but we consider that the mere knowledge that ships were fitted with wireless apparatus and could summon help, would act as a very great deterrent to such attacks. We therefore gave this suggestion our very careful sympathetic
consideration.
24. We understand however that its immediate adoption presents several difficulties. In the first place, we are informed, many of the river steamers and in fact one of the gunboats operating in these waters) are so cramped that it is
difficult
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