CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930 — Page 193

39.

"(c) Control of Fassengers".

203

In reviewing piracy it is important that the

position of the compradore and other conditions peculiar

The

to China coast shipping should be appreciated.

Compradore in the capacity of ships agent has almost

complete control of the comercial side and has considerable

influence with the firms. The number of passengers carried

is the direct concern of the comprado re and ho can generally

avoia interference by the ship's officers in any question

connected with passengers and cargo.

40.

•

Under the present regime, generally speaking,

nothing is done which might affect the passenger list

adversely. Searching, for instance, if carried out on

board at all, is very perfunctory. Only the more timid

are searched. Virtually, except at Hong Kong and Singapore,

no supervision of passengers is tolerated.

41,

Further, what could only be termed "abuses"

elsewhere are "winked at" on the China coast. In the

smaller ships it is common to find that most of the

available space is occupied by unofficial passengers who

have bribed some member of the ship's company. These

so-called passengers, who are virtually stowaways, may be

housed in store-rooms, living-rooms or even coal-hunkers.

In the case of the S. S. "DELI MARU" the catin boys, no

doubt un suspectingly, sold their cabin to members of a

pirate gang.

42.

Sometimes stowaways, by means of bribery, obtain

their passage by passing as members of the ship's company.