Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 156

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General Chan answered that he had already had a certain village Shun Lui sur- rounded he knew it for a hotbed of pirates, and that he had just had some information from Tsang Chau itself. He arranged to send by water a force to cooperate with his troops from Wai Chau on the land side: and required no assistance in the way of transport or otherwise. We were all a little hazy as to the position of Shun Lui-it was not on the chart but considered it was some 6-8 miles from Tsang Chau. As there was nothing more to do, we left: emphasising again the necessity for immediate action, and the im- portance of this aspect was obviously realised fully. No financial assistance from us was required: but we put it that the Government was fully prepared to pay rewards for the recovery of goods stolen.

In the course of tiffin at the Consulate, Dr. Lin arrived, and asked whether it would be possible to send up from Hong Kong somebody to point out the island of Tsang Chau -to say That is where the pirates landed": not to pilot. (I surmise that after our de- parture doubts had arisen as to the position of Shun Lui and its relation to Tsang Chau. Shun Lui is just behind Tsang Chau). He wanted this man sent up by the 10 p.m. boat that same night if possible. This was promised.

Mr. King and I left by the afternoon train; and in Hong Kong it was arranged to send up Inspector Boulger (who has some knowledge of Bias Bay and has been con- cerned in the investigations of all the recent piracies centred there) with another European to support him. Two Chinese detectives went with them, and a Quartermaster from the Sui An. Inspector Boulger's orders were to put. himself in touch with the Consul at once subject to anything the Consul might say, he was in the course of the expedition to take action only when asked to do so. He is an officer of experience and tact and can be trusted to see that Hong Kong's interests are properly watched.

III.-Letter of 5th December, 1922, from H. M. Consul-General, Canton, to His Excellency Ch'en Chiung Ming, Commander-in-Chief, Canton.

I have no doubt that the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs has communicated to you the result of his interview with His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong on the 2nd De- cember regarding the Sui An piracy, and conveyed to you that the Colonial authorities are prepared to assist in every way possible towards rounding up the pirates now on Chinese territory. It was understood that you were despatching troops to surround the villages concerned and it being possible that as a result of such movement the guilty parties would attempt to escape by sea it was suggested that the British Naval authorities might cooperate by patrolling the exit from Bias Bay. They are also willing to provide trans- port for troops from Canton should such be required.

May I be allowed to impress upon you the necessity of prompt action before the band disperses with its loot, as every day's delay renders it more difficult to lay hands on them? Fifteen days have now elapsed since the occurrence and nothing of any importance has so far been effected. Public opinion therefore, which recalls the Namoa piracy in 1890, cannot but make invidious comparison between the activity displayed by the then Imperial Governor-General of the Liang Kuang and the present day Republican officials.

IV. Letter of 9th January, 1923, from Commander-in-Chief, Kwangtung, to H. M. Consul-General, Canton.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter on the subject of the Sui An Piracy case, in which you suggest that the British Navy should cooperate- in the work of patrolling and also request that the criminals be arrested at an early date- and brought to trial.