Sessional_Paper_1914 — Page 47

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10. Steam hose for river steamers same as No. 3 of recommendations of ocean going

steamers.

11. Refer to Chamber of Commerce same as No. 9 of recommendations of ocean going

steamers.

C. Mcl. MESSER. BASIL TAYLOR,

Harbour Master.

LAU CHU PAK. HO FOOK.

G. W. BARTON. W. R. JEFFCOTT.

A force of river steamer guards to be organized by the Hongkong Government and attached to the Water Police force of which they would form a part.

A certain number of these guards under, say a sergeant, to be carried by each river steamer; the number carried by any particular vessel to be based on the number of passengers she is licensed to carry.

Guards to be frequently changed from ship to ship and to shore to drill, target practice, etc.

Such guards would, of course, have power to search any person boarding the vessel at any port and to search any part of the vessel either in port or at sea.

Cost of such force to be, in part, defrayed by the steamers each paying the Government a certain sum per man of the guard supplied,-for example-in the S.S. Kinshan we could dispense with six men at $25 per month each; that is, we could, without increasing our present expenses, pay the Government $150 per month for guards which would be really efficient and have a great moral effect; very few of the guards at present employed can be called efficient and they have not the cohesion of a properly trained force.

The above are only broad suggestions but I feel sure that the very knowledge that a few men from such a force were on board would absolutely prevent pirates travelling with evil intentions.

W. R. JEFFCOTT,

Master, S.S. Kinshan.