CO129-521-3 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-4-1930 - 20-11-1930 — Page 76

From:

The Rear Admiral

HongKong.

Date:

21st June, 1930.

To

SUBJECT

: THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, CHINA STATION.

ANTI PIRACY MEASURES.

76

M. 2860/30.

With reference to my H.K.0260 of the 23rd April

1930, and my signal timed 1352 of the 20th June, 1930, herewith is forwarded the latest information regarding unti-piracy guards together with the terms of service for the white Russian recruits.

2. The Inspector General of Police returned to

Hong Kong on the 16th June, 1930, having visited shanghai, Weihaiwei and Tientsin where he made arrangements for recrui ting Russians am Northern Chinese.

3.

The following numbers have arrived in Hong Kong

up to the present :-

Russian s

29

Northern Chinese 49 (out of 75 engaged).

Indian recruits none yet.

4. RUSSIANS. The twenty-nine Rus sians are now be ing trained at drill and in the use of weapons by a Hong Kong Police Officer. They are men of good physique and seem ke en end contented with their terms of service. They have be en

'sworn-in" as police constables but will be employed solely on anti-piracy duties. They have been detailed as follows:

2 N.0.0's and 12 men (forming one guard) for the

Canadian Pacific Railway Line.

11

5.

7 in charge of guards of Northern Chinese on

Butterfield & Swire's coastal routes.

4 (under British Police Sergeants) with Chinese guards

on Butterfield & Swire's Hongkong - Singapore run. 4 spares.

NORTHERN CHINESE

There are 49 Weihaiwei recruits at present under training. They are "sworn-in" as ordinary police constables and may be employed as anti-piracy guards or on normal police duties ashore. Ten of the twenty-six recruits yet to come are Tientsin men. The Inspector-General remarked that they are men of fine physique and all ex-policemen. He proposes that the recruits shall be interchangeable with the Northern Chinese police at present serving in Hong Kong, except that the Tientsin men will always be employed on anti- piracy work. As far as possible each guard detailed for a ship will contain one Tientsin man and one or two experienced policemen.

6.

The Northern Chinese will be detailed as follows:-

42 for Butte riield & Swire's coastal run (7 ships).

28 for Butterfield & Swire's Hong Kong - Singapore run (4 ships)

N.B.

Butterfield & Swire originally intended to take Indians on the latter run but have now decided to take Northern Chinese.

7.

INDIANS.