( 20 ).
37.-You are aware that the Hoppo has a number of Cruisers which anchor in the men-of-war anchorage?
A. Yes.
38.-On an average what number of these Cruisers are in the harbour?
A.—I have never made it my business to find out their number. I have seen as many as a dozen, and there are always two or three. I do not know particularly who they belong to; they all fly the Chinese Imperial flag.
39.-You know also there are some of the Viceroy's for lekin?
A.-The Viceroy's vessels are regular gun-boats. The Hoppo's vessels are steam-
launches.
40.--Do they make any report to you on arrival ?
A-No; we treat them as men-of-war.
41. Do they all anchor in the men-of-war anchorage?
The
A. Yes, under special instructions from Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL. vessels used to anchor amongst the junks; Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL thought there was suspicion attaching to it, and he said that as they belonged to the Chinese Govern- ment, they had better anchor in the men-of-war ground.
42.-Do you know they belong to the Chinese Government?
A.—They fly the Imperial flag. I do not know to whom they belong.
43.-Are you aware of a Station in the Praya West, No. 117, called the Yanwot'ong, which issues licences for salt?
A.-No.
44.-Do you know of a couple of Cruisers they keep for going after the fishermen here and at Shaukiwán to see they have proper licences?
A.-No.
45.—Are you aware that there is a tax paid by every fishing junk leaving the harbour and fishing outside which salts fish on the open sea and returns to Hongkong -with them?
A.—I do not know it as a fact. I have heard it said that such is the case.
46. Have you seen the Registrar General's letters of the 26th April, 1883, and 9th May, 1883, concerning a petition from certain fishermen belonging to Shaukiwán in this Colony, referring to the seizure of a quantity of fish by two sailing Cruisers belonging to the Yanwot'ong already mentioned? (shown letters).
A.-I have not seen these letters before.
47.-Are you aware of any sailing Cruisers flying the Chinese flag?
A.—I have seen Hákka boats flying that flag; they are generally engaged in carrying provisions to Ch'éungchau and the other station at Kapshuimún.
See post
pages 69-73
48.-Do you know whether any of these steam-launches are owned by private individuals and commissioned by the Chinese authorities?
A.--I do not know,
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