CO129-547-3 China Piracy- anti piracy guards 25-1-1934 - 3-12-1934 — Page 21

Enclosure in Canton despatch to Peking No. 80 of 20th June

1934.

CONFIDENTIAL.

West River,

H.M.S.

"Tarantula"

at Canton

30th May, 1934.

ANTI-PIRACY CO-OPERATION ITH THE CHINESE

AUTHORITIES

21

In accordance with previous arrangements I met Rear-

Admiral Liu and Colonel Leung at the British Consulate-General

this morning, 30th May, and exchange ideas on the subject of

Anti-piracy co-operation, Mr. Phillips, Consul-General also

attended the meeting.

2.

Captain Lai Ku Kow, Chief of Staff, had been detailed

as the other Chinese Naval Officer to meet me, but owing to

family bereavement he was unable to be present.

3. Colonel Leung first stated he thought this was a matter

which concerned experts, and that he would hold a watching brief.

Rear-Admiral Liu than asked me what my ideas were.

4.

The following is a general text of my remarks:-

It was obvious that piracy on the China coast was a

most important matter for the Chinese authorities to deal with,

for so long as it existed it would lend force to the contention

of outsiders that China was unable to keep law and order.

5. I explained in general terms that we had, during the

last number of years, taken steps to combat piracy, by the

institution of patrols, placing guards on board ships,

construction of grilles and wireless communication etc.

Despite these and other measures, piracy, although less

than it was, still continued. Piracies were almost invariably

The Commodore,

Hong Kong.

/of