CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930 — Page 186

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appreciated by the shipping firms which are fortunate

enough to obtain them, not only for their protective value,

but also for their beneficial effect upon the passenger

list.

10.

The General Officers Commanding, Hong Kong and

Singapore, have recently reasserted that the provision of

guards from Military sources is a very serious di ffi culty

and greatly interferes with training.

11.

"(iii) Grilles, if fitted to give maximum security to the ship, are contrary to Board of Trade life-saving regulations"

•

The Board of Trade stipulate that no ship may have

a passenger certificate without providing life-saving

facilities for every person on board.

12.

Except in the larger liners, only four boats are

normally carried, rafts being provided to make up the

required life-saving accommodation of vessels, which in

some cases carry over two thou sand coalies.

13.

These rafts are normally stowed to gether on the

central superstructure in order to economise de ck space.

This arrangement must greatly reduce their practical value

in emergency, and has also the disadvantage that all the

life-saving apparatus is within the area normally enclosed

by anti-piracy grilles.

14.

One

In May 1927 the S. S. "IU ENG KONG" was in colli sion

Eastward of Hong Kong and sank in a few minutes.

hundred and fifty coolie passengers were drowned, owing

to being imprisoned beneath a grilled hatch.

always quoted by shipping companies as an argument against

This is