Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 170

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saw another vessel and came back eventually to Shamshuipò. It was about daylight. There is a Chinese Custom House at Shamshuipò. I came across to Hongkong to engage a cargo boat. I asked 3rd prisoner as a friend to engage it. I wanted to lighten our launch to send saltpetre to Kowloon and pursue the boat which I had seen. 1st prisoner was sent in charge of the Saltpetre he was to take it to Kowloon City. When I came over to engage the

cargo boat none of my men came with me. I did not go with the cargo boat. I saw the saltpetre being loaded into the cargo boat. I am a soldier. I have a sailing master on board. I can't say how far my district extends. I dont know how fast the steam launch steams. The junk was stopped at Ling Sing not in these waters. FO TAI is my pilot or sailing master. 1st prisoner never boarded the junk when in the cargo boat he was there by my orders. 3rd prisoner has nothing to do with the launch.

2nd prisoner had nothing to do with it.

Cross examined by the Attorney General:-I was not present when the prisoners were arrested. I asked the 3rd prisoner to engage a cargo boat and he came over in it. I don't know if 2nd prisoner was in the cargo boat. The strength of my crew is about 10. I received my appointment from the Viceroy of the Two Kwang. It is written to my elder brother. Mr. FRANCIS produces rough translation. LOK CHU LAM is my brother, and of the district of Héungshan. That is Macao district. Smugglers are people who do not pay duty. They can pay at Kapshuimún. If in Hongkong waters I cannot touch a vessel. If they pass Kapshuimún or if it has goods that are not passable I can. I stop any junk that leaves Hongkong with saltpetre on board outside English boundary I have authority here. I let the vessel go out of compassion. The people asked me to do so and I sent saltpetre to Kowloon to be sent to Canton. 3rd prisoner had to come back to Canton. It was to go to the Customs at Kowloon City I did not take it in the launch because the launch was heavy and I wanted to chase another junk. I had no information about this junk. I was searching vessels and came across it after arresting it I searched another. I generally go out but not every night.

The Attorney General says he cannot contend after this evidence that this was a case of piracy.

The Chief Justice so directs jury.

Verdict not Guilty.

Copy of Commission furnished by the Board of Lekin to the Commander of a Revenue Cruiser produced in Supreme Court in January 1883, where three men were charged with piracy of Saltpetre which was brought into the Colony for sale.

SIT, Expectant Prefect, Chief Collector of the lekin tax on opium in the San On and Héung-shán districts, and CHEUNG, Assistant Collector of the same tax in the same districts, address a communication. A despatch has been received from the Central Lekin Board (to the following effect):-

"Let LOK CH'IN LUN, first on the list for promotion as Captain, be appointed to the "command of the steamer Kung-mò, to cruise about and keep watch in the waters of "the San On and Héungshán Districts and their Dependencies, away from the foreign "boundary. In the event of vessels belonging to crafty merchants smuggling opiun,