CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 54

ぶ

THE CHINA COAST OFFICERS' GUILD

and

THE MARINE ENGINEERS' GUILD OF CHINA

52

Shanghai, 12th March 1924.

PIRACY

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THE GUILDS' ATTITUDE

FEGULATIONS

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RESULTS

Sir,

We are directed to hand you the following information, inclu- ding correspondence which has passed between the Hongkong Government and these Guilds, on the subject of Piracy on the China Coast.

Following the piracy on board the 8.s."Sui An" on 19th Novem- ber 1922 & Commission was appointed by the Hongkong Government to enquire into the outrage.

This Commission was composed as follows:-

Mr.J.R.Wood, Magistrate, President.

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C. McInnes Messer, Col.Treasurer (formerly Capt.

Supt. of Police).

Lt.Com. C.W.Beckwith R.N., Harbour Master. Mr.H.P.White, Director, Douglas S.S.Co.

P.M.B.Lake, Marine Supt. I-C.S.N.Co. (retired).

The Commission held 7 public aittings 4.12.22.-13.12.22. at which all available witnesses were examined, and on 26.1.23. its Report was presented to H.E. the Governor of Hongkong.

This Report made, inter alia, the following recommendations:-

Existing Regulations experimental.

"The existing Piracy Regulations when originally passed "were experimental in character. In the light of experience they "have been only partially enforced though their form has not "been amended, We think that it may be found more convenient to "repeal the present Regulations and substitute others than to use "them as a basis for amendment".

The Master's duty to defend his ship, and its consequences.

"It is a tradition in the Mercantile Marine Service that "the Master and his officers shall defend their ship against pira- "tical attack. The obligation to resist pirates is also imperative "under the existing Piracy Regulations. In our opinion it is "essential that this statement of duty should be maintained and "emphasized. It should, we think, be the first regulation in any "new series. The master and the other ship's officers must be "relieved of all duty to exercise a discretion whether to resist "pirates or not. Their duty must be clear, If they do not resist "their conduct should be submitted to enquiry. It is therefore "Just and necessary that they should be given a scheme of defence "which has a good chance of success and in which each master for "himself has a personal confidence. Resistance to pirates once "begun cannot be abandoned. It is then a fight to a finish without "quarter. The officers must be placed in the strongest possible "position for defence on board their ship. They should also be "able to rely on the thoroughness of the precautions taken by the "Police Department and upon the support of efficient patrols. With