CO129-507-8 Prevention of piracy- use of armed patrol launches 8-2-1928 - 2-8-1928 — Page 6

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A CONFIDENTIAL(2).

RECEIV

3-SEP 1928

COL. OFFICE

52731

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 2nd August, 1926.

6

3

Sir,

With reference to your despatch Confidential(3) of 21st May, 1928, transmitting copies of letters from the

Admiralty relative to the cost of maintenance of the three armed launches "Cnslaught", "Faulknor" and "Nessus" serving on the West River I have the honour to inform you that as at

present advised after consideration with my Executive Council I am of opinion that the amount required by the Admiralty from the Colony for the maintenance of this launch patrol in the Delta of the Jest River would not be a proper charge on

the revenue of the Colony.

Copy admy

2.

The patrol is of much value to shipping, but this Government regards the cost as properly a charge on

Imperial funds and must therefore adhere to the view

expressed in the third paragraph of Sir Cecil Clementi's

letter of 3rd March, 1928 to the Commodore-in-Charge,

Hong Kong, a copy of which is enclosed, regretting the

impossibility of agreeing with the suggestion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that this Government should

ultimately bear the entire cost of the hire and maintenance

of these launches, the entire cost of Chinese personnel and half the cost of naval personnel.

3.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.H.S. AKERY, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.