CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 226

sir,

C.O.

Any further communication

should be addressed to:-

The Secretary of the Admiralty,

London, S.W. 1.

56758

L.P.-No. 8.

10 DEC 254dmiralty, 8. W. 1. 223

quoting "......4121/25 »

16th December

192 5

I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the

Admiralty to acquaint you that They have had under their

consideration your letter 42440/25 of 25th September 1925,

forwarding a submission from the Governor of Hong Kong that

the cost of running the four armed patrol launches on the

Canton Delta should be borne entirely by Imperial Funds,

2. The cost of running these launches has been taken over

entirely by the British Navy from 22nd August last since the

Hong Kong community can no longer be regarded as obtaining

any advantage from their maintenance. The present application

therefore relates to the expenses which were borne by the

Colony prior to 21st August 1925.

3. It does not appear to Their Lordships that the cost of the work of checking piracy in Chinese waters should fall

antirely upon Naval funda. Even on the High Seas there are

limits to the protection that the Navy can give to trade or

that traders can reasonably demand from the Navy. Merchant

ships are expected to protect themselves to a large extent

Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

from....