CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 347

Enclosure No.3.

REAR-ADMIRAL A.J.B. STIRLING, COMMODORE, HONG KONG,

TO GOVERNOR, HONG KONG.

Hong Kong, 24th June, 1926.

343

Your Excellency,

With reference to the proposals made recently

for dealing with piracies which may occur in future in Bias

Bay and adjacent Chinese territories, the following are

briefly some of the instructions issued by the Admiralty to

Naval Officers for dealing with such incidents.

These regulations apply to piracies on the inland

waterways, on the coasts of China, as well as on the high

seas.

2.

Generally, H.M. Ships may co-operate for the

suppression of piracies when so requested by local authorities

(through H.B.M. Consuls) with the exceptions hereafter

mentioned.

(a) H.M. Ships are not to be despatched to localities

along the coast within Chinese jurisdiction to

obtain indemnities for robberies committed or to

secure the release of persons held to ransom. In

all such cases local authorities are to be called

upon through H.B.M. Consul to take immediate

measures for redress and should the means at their

disposal not be sufficient to effect the object in

view, the question of co-operation should be decide.

by the Senior Officer.

(b) Landing in pursuit of pirates within Chinese

jurisdiction is strictly forbidden.

(c) The landing of armed parties to obtain information

is objectionable, the enquiries should be made,

when possible, by the officer in Command.

(xiv).