Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 79

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we have nothing material to add to the findings expressed in the "Minority Report of the Piracy. Regulations Committee 1924".

We regret reply to your letter has been delayed.

We are, Sir,

Your obedient servants,

(Sd.) BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE.

A. G. GRANTHAM, Esq.,

Secretary,

"Sunning" Piracy Commission,

HONG KONG.

THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONG KONG, 11th February, 1927.

Sir,

I have the honour, in reply to your letter of the 7th December, 1926, to submit copies of a document comprising the views of individual members of the Shipping Sub- Committee on points of detail in connection with the Piracy Prevention Ordinance Re- gulations; also a memorandum by Mr. R. Sutherland on a method of checking piracy by means of a passenger depot scheme. This Chamber, on 10th March, 1924, informed the Colonial Government that it approved this proposal in principle and would welcome its practical development, with due regard to general conditions affecting shipping.

On the Piracy Prevention Regulations generally, the Chamber desires to emphasize the conflict that exists, in reference to the griffes, between the Piracy Prevention Re- gulations and the Board of Trade Regulations for Safety of Life at Sea.

A grave responsibility would accrue in the event of a shipping disaster in which the presence of the grilles prevented passengers from reaching the boats. At present the anomalous condition exists that shipping companies are compelled by the Piracy Prevention Regula- tions to take measures which the Board of Trade surveyor ought, strictly speaking, to

refuse to sanction.

In regard to paragraph 7 of the comments of Lieutenant Commander Pitcairn Jones, the Chamber endorses the suggestion that, within the danger zone, ships fitted with W/T should send out wireless messages at routine times-say every two hours- non-receipt of these messages affording an indication that something is wrong and that a piracy may have been committed. It is considered that this traffic might be handled at a nominal cost, especially as it would not be necessary to undertake delivery of the routine messages to the shipping companies every two hours; only to notify them-and the appropriate authorities if the routine message at any time failed to arrive.

In view of occasional piracies of ocean-going steamers the plan might be extended to them, with modifications, e.g., a twice-daily signal might be found sufficient. The possibility that pirates will force wireless operators to send the signal as usual can probably be met by some special means. The Chamber would suggest that the views of wireless experts be obtained on this suggestion.