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the delta was on an increase, raised an outcry in Hong Kong. Demands were made for a different form of supervision of passengers on embarkation and for increased Naval protection. The Hong Kong Government suggested that a system of convoys should be introduced experimentally on the two principal river routes, Hong Kong-Canton and Hong Kong Kongmun. The Naval authorities, however, considered that the gunboats could not properly be diverted from their general work of patrolling the delta in order to safeguard two routes only, and that conditions did not justify the inevitable delays to traffic which would result from convoys. In their view the case would best be met by strengthening and improving the armed guards carried by ships. H.M.S. Moth, manned by personnel from the Fleet, was put into commission about this time.
Meanwhile efforts were made to induce the Canton Government to take part in a joint operation against the pirates, and after much negotiation an attack was finally launched on 20th March against a pirate lair near the mouth of the East River. H.M.S. Tarantula accompanied the expedition to give the necessary moral support, and although she was not called upon to take an active part, for the Chinese were at this time somewhat suspicious of British motives, the expedition resulted in the capture of over 40 pirates, the destruction of several of their launches, and the release of some 20 captives.
A further Chinese attack on pirates, with H.M.S. Moth standing by, took place three days later, and on 8th April General Li Fuk-Lam destroyed a supposed pirate village near Whampoa. Nevertheless, piracies continued. On 3rd April the Portuguese steamer Seixal was successfully attacked in the Mahning area and three of her Indian guards were killed. On 11th April the Tai Lee was again attacked on the Hong Kong-Kongmun run, and though the attack was repulsed it resulted in a strike of officers on the Kongmun boats, who demanded the withdrawal of armed guards and the establishment of naval convoy. Their real grievance was that the Piracy Regulations required them, under severe penalties, to resist attacks to the utmost, while making no provision for compensation to their dependents if they were killed or disabled. This defect in the regulations was at once remedied, and after the strike had lasted two days the Kongmun steamers resumed running under convoy of a naval armed launch.
Provision of Convoys. The Naval authorities only agreed to establish a convoy on condition that additional vessels were available; their view that a convoy was unnecessary on the Canton route, where the channels were wider and a higher speed could be maintained, still held good. There were undoubtedly special dangers on the Kongmun run, particularly after reaching Sailam, for the areas round Sailam, Mahning and Plover Island were, with the possible exception of the more remote East River area, the most lawless in the delta. Four launches were accordingly taken
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up at the expense of the Hong Kong Government and manned and armed by the Navy. The vessels Hing Wah, Kwong Lee, Wing Lee and Dom Joao were the most suitable that could be found, though except for the Hing Wah, their draught, 8 ft., was excessive for river work. They were of a somewhat similar type, though they differed considerably in detail. The average length was 90 ft., beam 18 ft., and speed 9 knots, and the armament was 4 machine guns, Dom Joao 'having one pdr. in addition. The crews, which were provided from the fleet until personnel could be sent out from home, consisted of a Lieutenant in command, a petty officer, four or more seamen, one leading stoker and one telegraphist, with Chinese engineers, stokers, etc. The launches were fitted with wireless.
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A convoy of three or four steamers left Hong Kong for Kongmun each night, and was met at Wangmun by an armed launch, the convoy route then being through the Sailam and Junction Channels to First Cliffs, and thence down the West River to Kongmun. A similar convoy left Kongmun a little later, so that the escorting launches were in close touch with one another in the areas where the pirates were most likely to make their attack. When not employed on convoy work the armed launches were available for patrol or any special duty required by the S.N.O., West River. Co-operation with Chinese, 1924-1925.-While arrangements were being made to provide convoys, the Canton authorities were being urged to proceed with their military operations in the district affected, and as a result General Li Fuk-Lam was ordered on 23rd April to pursue the Mahning gang with the co-operation of a Chinese Naval Commander and with the British gunboats."
Protracted negotiations followed regarding the supply by the British of arms,* coal, stores, etc., and when at last an attack on six pirate villages north of Kongmun was made on 23rd June by two Chinese gunboats, with Cicala and Robin in support, it turned out a failure. The Chinese certainly claimed to have killed four pirates and captured twenty more, but the officer in command of the expedition seemed doubtful of the loyalty of his crews and the British ships were not allowed to take any active part in the affair. In fact the only real advantage of the expedition was that it helped to accustom the Chinese to joint operations.
General Li Fuk-Lam showed a fair amount of energy throughout July, but his operations were interfered with in August by strikes in Canton. In September he operated in various parts of the West River and at the end of the month claimed, with the help of another Canton general, to have cleared the Mahning, Sailam and Wangmun areas. He stated that the pirates were scattering and taking refuge in Hong Kong and Macao, and early in October three notorious pirate leaders were arrested in British territory as a result of co-operation between the General's detectives and the Hong Kong police.
Arms were not supplied.
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