CO129-547-3 China Piracy- anti piracy guards 25-1-1934 - 3-12-1934 — Page 22

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of an internal type. Plans were obviously well laid

beforehand, but to be successful, the landing of hostages

and booty, and of course the pirates themselves had to

be ensured.

6. The prevention of these landings would probably

put an end to piracy altogether, and it was in this

particular sphere that the Chinese could be most helpful

in co-operation.

7.

Pirates had frequently used the coast between

Bias Bay and Chilang Point on which to land, and therefore

this area and the hinterland was the one to concentrate on.

8.

It was realised that the Nanking Government

were alive to the fact that measures must be taken for the

suppression of piracy and had issued regulations for the

capture of pirates and the protection of vessels, and the

Kwangtung Government had recently agreed to these

regulations.

I quoted from these regulations as follows:-

Article 2 states that the Coastguard service

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under the Ministry of the Navy shall be responsible for

the capture of pirates and the protection of vessels so

far as water routes are concerned. As regards the land

and the islands and the waters adjacent thereto, the

Water and Land Police belonging to the Police organs of

the Civil provinces along the coast shall be responsible

under the superintendence of the Ministry of the Interior,

and shall, as the occasion may arise, report to the

Ministry of the Interior.

Article 3 states that in all waters where piracy

has previously occurred, the coastguard shall despatch a

vessel.

Article 4, that warships shall co-operate and

assist to the fullest extent.

19.