CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 185

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THE 22/12

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Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 21st December. (Received Colonial Office 5.a.m. 21st December, 1926)

173

Your telegram of 18th December. Full details sent inmy despatch of 16th December Secret. Canton Government asked that officers from Hong Kong might visit Canton for consultation as to operations against Bias Bay pirates. I therefore sent Wolfe and Bloxham to Canton where they had entirely fruitless discussion on the 14h December with Weiyuk who is acting for Eugene Chen. Meanwhile Canton Government independently and without prior notification to me sent one gunboat ti Mir Bay and one to Bias Bay also some troops to the area between Bias Bay and Mira Bay which is not

frequented by pirates. It is believed that these gun- boats and troops are operating against General Lokwan who is a political enemy of the Canton Sovjet and is

largely in control of this region.

This action may or may not be preliminary to some attempt to round up the pirates. Suggestion

that the pirates escape to British territory is un-

founded and has been published by Canton maliciously

for propaganda purposes. Canton does not really

desire British co-operation at present.

I will telegraph again when the facts are better known. (Unnumbered telegram of 20th).