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8. The Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong reports that, on receiving the deputation, he found that the scheme had only been considered in barest outline. No idea of the cost had been obtained, nor did the details involved seem to have been considered. The number of men required was tentatively stated to be 400, with 35 white N.C.O.'s and 4 white Headquarter Staff.
9.
It was evident during the discussion that strong opposition would be offered to any general tax which would increase charges on shipping not interested in anti- piracy guards.
10. The Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong considered the scheme altogether too nebulous and too expensive to be undertaken at a moment's notice, and it was represented to the deputation that the only scheme admitting of prompt application was a development of the former system of Indian Guards, possibly supplemented by white N.C.O.'s. It was left to the deputation to confer with the Inspector-General of Police, Hong Kong, with a view to evolving a practical scheme at the earliest possible moment.
11. No further information is yet available as to the result of the Conference with the Inspector-General of Police, but the Oversea Defence Committee suggest that unless very active steps are taken to press the Shipping Companies to evolve a satisfactory scheme and to implement it as soon as possible, a further long delay will occur. Whatever action may be taken now, however, the Committee are of opinion that it will be impossible for the Shipping Companies to produce an efficient substitute for the present naval and military guards by the 1st April.
12. In view of the above, the Oversea Defence Committee feel it their duty to mention the forcible representations made to then to the effect that if advantage is taken of the absence of guards to undertake an intensive campaign of piracy a serious blow will be dealt to British trade in the Far East.
It is for the Cabinet to decide whether this danger is of sufficient gravity to merit any modification of their original decision.
The Committee, however, venture to recommend that if it is decided to continue the provision of regular naval and military guards, such continuance should be for a definitely limited period, and should be on condition that the Shipping Companies evolve an efficient scheme and agree to bring it into operation at the earliest possible date, the latter date to be fixed by the 1st April. Furthermore, the Committee consider that if regular naval and military guards are extended after the 31st March, their full cost from the 1st April should be borne by those Shipping Companies which employ them.
13. As regards the details of a scheme for the provision of guards by the Shipping Companies, the Oversea Defence Committee consider that any practical scheme must emanate from the Companies after they have reached agreement amongst themselves. At this juncture any detailed criticism of the proposals made to the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong up to date (vide Appendix) would be of little value.
At the same time, as the Companies cannot be expected to have the organizing and administrative knowledge, and undoubtedly have not the facilities for recruit- ment which are available to Government institutions, such as His Majesty's Forces and the Police, the Committee feel that it would expedite progress if the shipowners were informed that His Majesty's Government are willing to advise them on these points, and to consider favourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.
14. The Committee suggest that, since it has been decided that the internal protection of ships against piracy is the responsibility of the Shipping Companies, any scheme which is evolved should be based on the following principles:-
(a) That the organization set up should ultimately be entirely independent of
the United Kingdom and Colonial authorities.
(b) That the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Shipping Companies making use of the organization, and by them alone, in proportion to their demands on it, the distribution of the cost to be arranged amongst themselves.
15.
It should, perhaps. be pointed out that the scheme must include provision for shipping which at present embarks regular guards at places other than Hong Kong, such as Singapore and Shanghai.
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16.
CONCLUSIONS.
The conclusions of the Oversea Defence Committee submitted for con- deration by the Committee of Imperial Defence may be briefly summarised as follows:-
(a) It is not for the Committee to suggest any modification of the Cabinet decision to withdraw regular naval and military guards on the 31st March. If, however, the continuance of these guards for a further definitely limited period is considered desirable, the Committee propose that it should be subject to the following conditions:-
(i) That the Shipping Companies evolve an efficient scheme and agree to bring it into operation at the earliest possible date, this date to be fixed by the 1st April.
(ii) That the full cost of any naval and military guards supplied after the 31st March be borne by those Shipping Companies which employ them.
(6) That any practicable scheme should emanate from the Shipping Companies, but the Committee suggest that, in order to expedite progress, His Majesty's Government might inform the ship owners, both in London and in Hong Kong, that they would be willing to advise them, and to consider favourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.
(c) That any organization which is set up should ultimately be independent of the United Kingdom and Colonial authorities, and that the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Companies in proportion to their demands on it.
(Signed)
2, Whitehall Gardens, S. W. 1, March 10, 1930.
G. N. MACREADY, Secretary,
Oversea Defence Committee.
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