TNAG-2531-FCO40-3701-Hong-Kong-shipping-matters-1997 — Page 179

GOVERMENT HOUSE, HONG KONG.

WED 27 MAY 92 08:54

PG.11

*

7

23. IMB

representatives

control the use of

that

there would

Furthermore,

guns,

stated that armed personnel could firearms if trained and exercised, but be problems in arming civilians.

if used, must result in success, otherwise the problem would be exacerbated, as motive of revenge này result. Captain Wan Shukry (Malaysia Maritime Academy) said that pirates wished simply to earn a living, and that arming of ships' crew was not practicable.

24. A video of an interview of the master of a ship subjected to recent pirate attack was then shown. Comments of the

master included the following :-

(a) Instructions on how to deal with piracy are not

comprehensive;

(b) His ship was on a course heading for Horsburgh Light Strait) for a time with no one on the

(Singapore

bridge;

(c)

Credit cards and travellers cheques were stolen:

(a)

(e)

The pirates were believed to be serving or former Indonesian naval personnel;

Areas in which attacks occurred could not be avoided at night; and

(£)

A

United Nation police force should be established to deal with the problem.

25. The Indonesian delegate advised that ship masters could report pirate attacks to Indonesian Coast radio stations. When pressed to say how many attacks in Indonesian waters had been investigated, the only response was that the Indonesian Co-ordinating body would send a patrol boat to

investigate.