1925-01-30 — Page 4

K

Shoes

Randing the

Wheaton,

1025 THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30TH,

We all like our old Shoes, they are comfortable friends of long standing.

K Shoes are comfortable from the day you buy them. They are so well cut, so well built and are made in such a variety of widths and lengths that any man, can be perfectly fitted.

Stocked in plain and Brogue stylee.

Mackintosh

& CO. LTD.

MEN'S WEAR SPECIALISTS Alexandra Building, Des Voeux Road.

LOCAL PIRACY REGULATIONS. People below decks would be unable to CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE PAPERS

"A MINORITY REPORT.

reach the boat deck because of the locked grilla. The ships offerers in the event of a collision would be fully occupied with their respective duties and there for unable to attend to the unlocking If the guards had krys

PRESENT MEASURES CONDEMNED AN ADEQUATE of the grilla.

PATROL SYSTEM NEEDED.

WHY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CHINA COAST GUILDS' REPRESENTATIVES WITHDREW FROM A MEETING.

10th:-

Fur-

AND ALSO 4 HOURS ARTICLES. Both these reforms are considered desirable and it is recommended that a go fully into the matter with the Har special committee should be formed to bour Master.

GENERALLYT.... Speaking generally deferica from with- can never of itself be ultimately successful. The utmost that can he hoped for is the defence of the bridge and engine room until signals of distress can be communicated to a patrolling vessel in the neighbourhood and it is submit ted that with adequate, patrol all that is necessary in merchant vessels is proteo- tion of the bridge and engine room and the arming of oficers. Once piraten know that although they may be ablo to overcome resistance in the ship itself they will not be able to get away, piracy PATROLS. will cease.

in.'

it is unlikely that they would have suf- ficient presence of mind of sufficient in initiative to do anything of use. In some steamers which come within the purview of the Regulations there are something like 30 jocks to unfästra' before all the grilles can be opened. No metins of re- leasing bolts sini!taneously is Tensible We have received from the Colonial as impracticable as it is absurd. It is in ships of the class concerned. Secretary a copy of the, "Minority Reaccepted as axiomatic that it is the duty thermore, owing to the grills the crews port" of the Piracy Regulations Com of the master and his officers ta defem! of these vessels would have the greatest mittee together with copies of covering their ship, but it is submitted that ade difficulty in getting to the boats them,

The protection of British vessels from letters by Mr. Neilage S. Brown, repre-quate protection from piratical attacks selves. In the event of an outbreak of sentative of the Hongkong General from within the ship is utterly imprac fire or a collision and a serious loss of piracy in the adjacent waters is essen ticable in the case of vessels employed te occurring owing to passengers being] tially a duty of His Majesty's Navy An efficient service of patrols would, nob Chamber of Commerce

In a letter addressed to Lieut..Condr. on the trades in question. Vessels.con-penned below, who would be held respon merely protect commerce from attacks Conway Hake, R.X.R., Assistant Harbour ducted for commercial purposes to carry sible: the Hongkong Government who from without but would also set as an Master, Mr. Brown wrote on January passengers and cargo from one, port to framed the Regulations or the owners absolute deterrent to attacks from with In a speech made by him in Shanghai another cannot be converted into fortand their "officers who were compelled to

(1924) Admiral Sir Arthur Leveson INDIAN GUARDS.

stated that the pincing of armed guards "I have the honour to enclose report resses. It is common ground that the carry them out?

on river boats was of little practient ser- There are approximately 200 ludian vice and that increased patrols were in TAKE A PEG of the representatives of the Hongkong element of surprise is always inevitably General Chamber of Commerce, the com- present in the case of such attacks The!

he was taking steps to increase the bined China Coast Officers and Engine, most that can be hoped for or attempted guards employed at a cost to the shipping his opinion the crly remedy, and that

Neither owners, whose property is at ers' Guilds, appointed by His Excellemy is the defence of the bridge and engine companies of some $270,000 per annum.

The signatories hereto have taken up the Governor to consider certain pro-room for a sufficient time to enable the stake, nor officers whose lives are at stake patrols on the Yang-sze, posals in regard to the prevention of officers to send out distress signals from have the slightest confidence in the the question of Aaval patrols with the Their training is inadequate and their Senior Naval Cheer West River Patrol piravy. I shall frei obliged if this re-the bridge. The finding of the Commis discipline is bad and their bad discip and his report is with the approval of port may be transmitted, to the Hong- sion appointed to enquire into the Suliar affects the discipline of the other the Commodore appended hereto.

These guards Two observations only need be made kong Government at the earliest possible. Piracy goes to show that if the then members of the crew.

First that it would appear from the are paid through the Police and consider date. In view of the desirability of giv- Piracy Prevention Regulations had been although ruminally on the ship's articles on the substance of that, Report ing publicity to the reason which led to earried on, to the letter and the strong themselves as police and resent receiving Report that that portion of Hi.. Naval

orders from the ship's officers. In forces which is stationed in adjacen the withdrawal of the above mentioned est possible fight put up

appendix hereto a number of cases is waters is not adequate for the many and representatives from the meeting of the

the bridge could only have been held quoted, showing the bad discipline and varied duties which devuive upon it and for a sufficicat time to have robbed thein Tciency of the guards. This list of second that the report deals practically. Piracy Regulations Committee held on

attack of its element of surprise and cases is by no means exhaustive büt mer-entireis with River trafic. 19th ulto it is considered desirable

opportunity would have been furnished illustrative of the matter raised in that this report should be, published i

to inflict damage upon "the attackers this paragraph. exfedan at the earliest date, and I shall

and to send up signals of distress. It is probable that the bridge could not be glad to learn from you whether the l

have been finally held against the deter- publication of same meets with the Gov

mined assault by at large party of armed crament's approval.

OF

ZAWOHN BEGG

Begg!

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John

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BLUE

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JUST ARRIVED.

THE MINORITY REPORT.

men."

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once

It is urged that a system of patrola on the lines indicated by the oficer in It is the opinion of both the owners question and a coastal patrol within the and the officers (as it is the generally danger zone to be formulated by the If the estimates for His Majesty'a accepted-view all the world overy that Naval authorities should be instituted at the Master of a vessel should have com- plete control over all members of his Navy do not permit of the immediate crew at all times when the vessel is aut construction of the indicated craft by With one exception every recent pira We the minority members of the Comtient attack from within the ship has, and it is felt strongly that the the Navy it is urged that the Hongkong police element should be entirely elimin-Government might fittingly apply to this BOLE AGENTS. ittee appointed he His Excellency the been successful in spite of the existing ated and shat any Regulations or assista purpose the surplus shipping control ance received by a ship in the British funds as yet unappropriate to any Governor to enquire into certain further Regulations. The exception referred to proposals with regard to the prevention is the case of the Tai Lee in April. 1991. Mercantile Marine should come from: the particalar purpose, or if these are un Harbour Department and not from the tereny of the general trade of the Colony of pirary have the honour to submit the She was then the mother ship of her and in ertain matters from the sailable for the time being, in the in- Whilst in port the Indian the Mongkong Government should necept convoy and carried eight armed Indian Police. following report and recommendations:

It is not within the competence of the In September, 1924, The Honourable guards in charge of two European Ser guards consider themselves as being of responsibility.

s to this report to elaborate the people who come on board whilst the signatories Th Colonial Secretary wrote to the geants, in addition to the six armed duty and they take no part in searching

I however, most strongly urged Hongkong General Chamber of Com Indian guards attached to the vessel and regs is in port. It is the unanimous a comprehensive scheme of naval patrols.

cpinion of ship owners and officers that merce, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce signed on articles,

the guards could and should be distat un adequate patrol system on the lines suggested by the Senior Naval The pirates launched the attack upon pensed with from the ships.. And the Combined China Count Officers

Officer West River Patrols and a coastal POLICE SEARCHES.

patrol are the only solutious of the Guilds stating at "certain further prothe engine room and, control having been posals" with rega. the prevention of gained, they drew the fires with the in-

The searching and examination of existing state of affairs and that the piracy were at present under considera- tention of causing the vessel to drift passengers embarking on vessels about Hongkong Government should therefore tion and asking each of such bodies to ashore where a considerable body of to leave. the Colony is a proper function at the earliest possible moment seek the ever, are inadequate. The number of authorities at Hongkong in formulating nominate a representative to serve on a pirates well arme "were waiting, ready of the police. The Police searches, how advice and assistance of H.M. Naval Committee with certain Government to loot the vessel and murder anyone who cases of ships which have been pirated by a scheme, in which even: the signatories passengers who embarked with their arms hereto will, if invited, be willing to ren- officials to consider the proposals put for resisted.

well known. Coastal and river der any assistance in their power.

Summarized briefly, if the guards aro ward and to make recommendations

Fortunately, the vessel did not drift 13 nshore, but was carried down mid. steamers are frequently in Hongkong for thereon to the Goverriment.

The pirates 12 hours at a time and during the whole withdrawn, grilles removed (except thos stream with the current."

The ship's entrance, and bridge) an adequate Hect seeing that their object was defeated of this time cargo and baggage is being around the engine room sad stokehold. made no attack on the bridge bat jumped discharged and loaded. over board and swam to the shore. It officers cannot possibly be expected to of patrol craft provided, and police is said that several were shot as they search the people who are constantly supervision, both ashore and in the Har be itle to fear from the possibility of were swinning away but this is doubtful coming and yet the police only come on bour materially reinforced, there should as it was a dark night and it was im duty on the various wharves some two possible to be certain of the results,

The Sauning, another vessel of the can.

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ther

GRILLS.

to three hours before, the ship is due piratical attacks in the future.

to sail. It is submitted that an ade-CO.OPERATION BETWEEN HONG-

on the wharves the whole time, also that

property ashore.

fi "

4

The

activities of the latter, however, should be confined entirely to protective mea sures ashore and to the examination of passengers prior to embarkation. That the Local Government have not kept the Naval authorities fully posted of infor mation in their possession is exemplified in an incident, which took place on the 2nd January of this year. It appears 20 pirates were supposed to unknown left Hongkong by an from information received by the Felice

for Shanghai their object be

vesack to attack an unknown

that

have

ship

The three bodies so named nominated Neilage Sharp Brown, Chau Tsun Nia and Tom Turnbull Lautenson respective ly the signatories hereto as their nomi- neex The first meeting of the Committee was held on Friday, the 5th of December, 14, at which the Assistant Harbour Master, Commander Conway Bake, R.X.,

KONG AUTHORITIES AND presided. It was explained by the Chair-

THE ROYAL NAVY, man at the outset that the certain fur voy turned around and tried to stand umber of police should be on duty which the Committee by but she could render no assistance the Water Police should be strengthened

While the Navy is primarily respon- and provided with additional suitable proposals was appointed to consider were prin- whatever, in fact she only became an cipally proposals for the amendment of additional target for the tiles of the Harbour craft to be used in supervising sible for the suppression of piracy—in the Piracy Prevention Regulations, and disappointed desperadors on share who and examining passengers embarking on these and other waters if the best re- that the Committee were not to be allow fired at both vesels until they were out vessels in the stream. At present Police suits are to be obtained it is of vital supervision and examination of such importance that they should obtain the ed to discuss the general question of of range

It is considered that if it is necessary passengers is hopelessly inadequate. This maximum co-operation and support not piracy prévention apart from the regala- tions. In these circumstances the signa- to retain certain of the Regulations until doubtless will entail a considerable in only from the shipowners and those who tories knowing the general opinion of Naval patrols (hereinafter referred to) crease in the strength of the police force man the ships but also from the Har- those whom they represented felt them-are provided, it certainly is not neces- and consequently increased expense. I bour Department and the Police. selves compelled to refer the matter back sary to stiffen the existing Regulations: is submitted however that it is as much to them before proceeding farther with but on the contrary they should be con- the duty of the Government to protect the discussion. The bodies referred to siderably modified and all that is requir-life and property on board ship by tak were of the opinion that the existing re-ed ie that the bridge and the engine-rooming precautionary measures whilst ships gulations were most unsatisfactory and and stokehold entrances should be pro- are in port as it is to protect life and that no revision of them would be tected, and the obeers armed.

WHAMPOA TO CANTON. effectual for the purpose of the suppres sion' of piracy and that, unless the whole

Owing to the silting up of the Tai Moi subject was considered, and all avenues The grilles are real source of dan- explored, no good purpose could be ser red by the signatories continuing on the ger. They interfere with the access of Barrier a number of vessels have to be the passengers to the boata and in all lightened at Whampoa and the cargo so Committee and that, if wider discussion which auch bodies contemplated was not probability will be the cause of great taken out has to be carried from thence

The greatest difficulties are being ex-ing

the return journey from Shang- to be allowed, it would be better if their loss of life in the event of a vessel to Canton in native craft..

carrying them incurring any maritime representatives should withdraw from the

panics were requested by the Police to Committee and go thoroughly into the casualty. The regulations so far as they perienced in inducing the owners of on matter themselves and submit amino relate to grilles are in direct opposition native craft to carry such cargoes owing bai to Hongkong. The Shipping Com The regulations, of course, cannot warn the Masters of steamers trading on, rity report. At the adjourned meeting to the provisions of the Merchant Ship to their fear of pirates.

ping Acts. The Board of Trade require- of the Committee, the Chairman again ments as to the Survey of Live Saving apply to Buch craft and the only defence that particular route. As the informa ing from the Naval authorities as i made it clear that the wider considera-

whether they could provide anything, of tion was eutside the scope of the Com-Appliances, 1920, par. 180 are as follows that can be afforded to such craft must tion WLA somewhat meagre, on enquir

Proper provision must be made for ace supplied by patrols.

'. THE CONVOY SYSTEM · a inore definite nature it.transpired that mittee and the signatories hereto accord-

cess of passengers to the embarkation ingly withdrew.

deck and for controlling and martialling

It is not contended that the convoy the Police had not passed on their in- Although both the shipowners and the them and finally embarking them in the system has proved entirely valueless, but formation to the Navy. They knew no personnel on the ships from the outset lifeboats in the shortest possible time," have realized the many defects of the The present requirements under the experience has shown that it is a serious thing about it! The foregoing only existing Ordinance they have unques Piracy Prevention Regulations are to interference with trade as the speed of serves to illustrate the need for closer tionably given the system more than a keep all passengers other than those of the convor is necessarily reduced to the co-operation between the Local Govern- fair trial. They cannot, however, con- Erst eines below the bridge deck, which speed of the slowest vessel in the convoy.ment and the Naval authorities, and, to tinue willingly to subscribe to a system in all river" steamers is also the boat The result is obviously unfair to those ensure the greater effectiveness of such which from experience they are con- deck. In the case of river steamers all Companies which have spent large sums co-operation, the appointment of a Naval access from the main or lower deck is in improving their vessels to cope with representative on any committee conven vinced is wrong.

next deck above or increased competition and also tends to ed to deal with matters relating to

Piracy prevention is most desirable.. (Bgd.) NEILAGE S. BROWN, from the saloon deck by means of lacked stop further development.

Representative, HK. General Chamber of Commerce. It is strongly urged that it is the pro-apar gratings across the companionway.

It is considered desirable' that the Gov. vince of the Navy to protect coinmerce,Passengers in the second class accommo

(5gd.) T. N. CLAU particularly British commerce, against the dation on the saloon deck aft are sepa

Representative, The Chinese...

Chamber of Commerce. depredations of pirates. Under the Re-rated from the first class passengers for ernment should obtain from the owners gulations the responsibility for the deward and from the deck above by means of all vessels carrying a Hoogkong pas

(Sgd.) T. T. LAURENBON, fence of the local Mercantile Marine is of locked gratings and grills. No officers enger certificate trading in the danger

Representative, Combined Chinz Conet Officers and Engine. thrown upon the owners and the officers or guards are below the bridge deck, zone a arance that the Decesary

cra Guilds of each vessel, The idea of a merchant that is the deck above those on which steps are being taken to provide and ship of the class plying in the Canton the majority of the paasengers (in many equin auch vessels with Wireless Tele Delta or on the coast having a citadel instances over 1,000) are carried. In the graphy. A reasonable time should be fortified garrisoned defended" (ride event of a panic arising from fire, colli- allowed for installation and the educa Report of Sui An Piracy Commission) ission or other maritime casualty, the tion of operators,

THE REGULATIONS.

cut off from the

WIRELESS.

January, 1995,

(Continued on puge:8.).