Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 171

66

( 82 )

'saltpetre, sulphur, salt, munitions. of war and other contraband goods, immediate arrest must be made after enquiry, and they must be taken to the chief station to be carefully examined, and, if it should be found necessary, conveyed to the capital, "confiscated and dealt with. The officer in question must make it his duty to command "and act with the men under his control in keeping a diligent lookout night and day, "and must not neglect the responsibility entrusted to him."

Having received this despatch we think it only right to make a copy of it for your information, that you may forthwith act in accordance with the instructions of the Central Lekin Board, carrying them out in detail in an energetic manner without the slightest remissness.

An urgent communication.

3rd day 7th moon, 8th year Kwong Sü, (16th August, 1882).

i

NOTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN AT THE SUPREME COURT OF HONGKONG,

IN THE CASE OF

REGINA V. TAI WA, charged with Piracy,

Chinese patrol flag employed for purpose of robbing more easily.

Criminal Sessions, July 1883.

Attorney General for prosecution,

Prisoner undefended.

Plea not guilty.

23rd July, 1883.

LO KIM MIN-I am the Master of the Chinese Junk Kwong Sun Lio, Low KUNG Tsz is owner. I had some clothing and money about 10 taels and 228 pigs which were for customers. On 2nd May I was at sea in the junk, beyond Kwo Chow beyond Po Toi Ti near Lan Toi. It was outside Liümún Pass and near Fat Tow-moon Pass. I saw a paddling boat. It had masts. It sailed up towards us. We were going down they were coming up and they called out that they wanted to search our boat. They had 20 odd men. We had nine. They were flying a flag, a yellowish one. It had 2 characters on it, Tsun Chá patrol. They were waving the flag. They told to us to stop that they might come and search the boat but we did not. They then fired at us 6 muskets and threw a stinkpot. We crouched down in the boat. They each had 6 barrelled revolvers and they came into our boat more than 10 men. Prisoner was amongst them. They shut us up in the hold. It was about 4 P.M. That same evening at 9 P.M. I heard the anchor dropped. It was at a place called Tam kún Tau. They took our people into their boat and they sailed off with us, we remained 3 nights and 2 days until we got to Tai U Shan. On the night of the 4th, we were put on shore. Tai U Shan is below Lan Tau a little further than Ch'éungchau. It is called Fun Lao.

It is called Fun Lao. I do not know what they did with our vessel, I did not see it.

They left us there. They took our