CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 371

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once made with General Ip Kui at Waichau, who sent an expedition to Nim Shan under a commander named Yung Fai Ting. It was later reported on fairly good authority that this commander succeeded in rounding up many of the pirates and recovering most of the silver bara stolen, but the pirates were released on payment of a large sum and the silver bars were appropriated by his troops. However, another expedition was later sent under the orders of General Hung Siu Lun with Commander Wong Fuk Chi in command. The latter corroborated the statement above regarding Yung Fai Ting, and further stated that the silver had been melted down and made into silver coins. In February 1925 Commander Wong Fuk Chi succeeded in effecting the arrest of one Sun Mau at Tai Pung. This man admitted participation in this piracy, and stated that Lam Tsoi Sau (a notorious pirate), a Hakka, a native of Cheung Pai village in Fan Lo Kong district, was the leader in this His story was piracy. He also gave the names of several of his confederates. to the effect that the pirates went to Shanghai viâ Hong Kong in a B. and S. steamer. He stayed with others at the Hung On Boarding House in Hong Kong before leav for Shanghai (this statement was verified and found to be true). The arms were purchased in Shanghai Eighteen meu accompanied him via Sha Yu Chung to Hong Kong. His share of the loot was 40 pieces of silver, 40 dollars in one dollar coins and some serge clothing. The pirates known to him came from the Bias Bay There were several other pirates unknown to him in this gang. This ship did not come under the Hong Kong l'iracy Prevention Ordinance.

area.

10. Steamship Hong Hwa."-Ho Hong Steamship Company, of Singapore. Running between Rangoon, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Swatow and Amoy. Was pirated six days out from Singapore in latitude 14° 53′ N., longitude 110° 24′ E., on the 13th January, 1925, at 8:40 A.M., while on a voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong. She was carrying 357 passengers. The pirates, numbering about 30 (armed with revolvers) took the ship to Tsang Chau Island, Bias Bay, and left the ship in the ship's boats, taking with them money, jewellery and clothing to the value of 53,360 dollars. From information received it would appear that the pirates came mostly from Nim Shan or Fan Lo Kong and travelled to Singapore, where they procured arms and boarded the ship as passengers. The leader of this gang is said to be a man named Lo Ah Chiu, a native of Fan Lo Kong. The ship carried wireless, which was immediately put out of action by the pirates. Hakka and Hoklo was mostly spoken by the pirates, but some spoke Fukien and a few Punti. This ship did not come under the Hong Kong Piracy Prevention Ordinance. At the time this pirary was committed, General Hung Shiu Lun and Commander Wong Fuk Chi happened to be in Hong Kong. On the suggestion of the Captain Superintendent of Police an expedition was organised consisting of members of the navy, army and police in Hong Kong and beaded by Commander Wong Fuk Chi. The party left for Ha Chung Bias Bay, in a naval tug, where a party of some 120 of Wong Fuk Chi's soldiers were embarked and taken to Fan Lo Kong Bay. A landing was effected and raids were made on Kwai Chau, Hai Chau, Nim Shan and Fan Lo Kong. The police were present at these raids. As a result, sixteen men were arrested. They were in possession of various articles of property obviously illegally obtained. Some Singapore money was also found. The sixteen men were sent to Waichau for trial, and some of the houses occupied by them were burnt, but twelve of these were released after enquiry. The four! remaining prisoners were kept in custody for several months at Waichau, but after the city fell into the hands of General Chueng Kai Shek, these four were released. At Fan Lo Kong a man in one of the houses raided fired on the troops who had come to search. This man was summarily shot. He was in possession of a revolver and an automatic. He turned out to be a man called Chan Shui Wai, alias Yeung Ah In, a well-known robber and pirate.

General.

In dealing with the Bias Bay pirates, it has always been very difficult to g reliable information as to the identity of the pirates concerned, possibly because t whole area is more or less infested with pirates and their families, who appear to be still able to keep their movements a secret. There are undoubtedly many gangs operating (there are three well-known gangs), but these ganga are split up into sections under sub-leaders, who each recruit a certain number of men when it is decided that a piracy is to be committed. In this way it often happens that a member of a gang only knows his sub-leader and a few of the men with whom he is operating This is an added difficulty in securing reliable information. With the possible excep·· tion of Commander Wong Fuk Chi, the Chinese authorities who have hitherto

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been entrusted with the suppression of piracy have made little or no attempt to clear this area; in fact, it is strongly suspected that the military have on more than one occasion acted in collusion with the pirates (many of whom have seen military service), and have been friendly disposed towards them. Effective co-operation has therefore been impossible. The most noted pirate nests in this area are: Nim Shan, Fan Lo Kong, Ilai Chau, Kwai Chau, Cheung Pai, Ha Chung and Tai Pung City.

(Signed) L. H. V. BOOTH,

Assistant Director of Criminal Intelligence.

Enclosure No. 3.

Rear-Admirul A. J. B. Stirling, Commodore, Hong Kong, to Governor, Hong Kong. Your Excellency,

Hong Kong, June 24, 1920. 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, His Majesty's ships may co-operate for the suppression of piracies when so requested by local authorities (through His Britannic Majesty's Consuls), with the exceptions hereafter mentioned :—

(a.) His Majesty's 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 His Britannic Majesty's 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 decided 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, (d.) Parties are on no account to be landed from His Majesty's ships within Chinese jurisdiction to destroy houses or villages, or even search them, on the grounds of their inhabitants being engaged in acts of piracy. The Chinese officials who accompany His Majesty's ships ou these expeditions have no authority to request that such measures should be adopted. (e.) It will, however, be the duty of Officers in Command to report the information that may reach them of piratical villages and depots, with a view to His Britannic Majesty's Consul calling upon the Chinese authorities to take steps for their suppression, in which case our co-operation may be afforded if solicited through His Britannic Majesty's Cqusul. (f) Officers may use force--

(i.) When fired upon.

(ii) When a piracy is actually seen to take place, for the destruction or

capture of the pirates.

(iii) To prevent undoubted robbers from making their escape.

3. It will be observed, therefore, that on no account can any officers or men be disembarked in Chinese territory to search for or to attack pirates, and that when pirates are once on shore fire can only be opened on them at the request of Chinese officials through His Britannic Majesty's Consul and in co-operation with Chinese authorities.

4. Under these special circumstances I would recommend that the most effective fre which could be opened from Naval resources in co-operation with Chinese would be salvos of incendiary bombs from aircraft, the object being to burn out the villages.

Before such action could be taken, however, it would be necessary to receive a request from the Pekin or Canton authorities, through His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Pekin or His Britannic Majesty's Cousul-General at Canton, and it would be essential for a number of Chinese officials and troops to be present during the operation.

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