Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 84

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snuggled. The difficulties of this are so well known that it is superfluous to detail them. With one or two exceptions, defence against piracy, once it has broken out on board a vessel, has been abortive and, in the SUNNING" case, retaliation on the part of the pirates by setting fire to the vessel can only have resulted in a heavy monetary loss to the owners and, in my opinion, there is no reason why similar tactics might not be employed in future piracies. The element of surprise is a feature which it is difficult to provide an antidote for, especially as, in the new order of things, pirate leaders may be first class passengers. I consider the carrying of arms on the persons of officers and engineers undesirable and impracticable in the duties they have to perform.

As regards the system of grilles, apart from these being a distinct contravention of Board of Trade Regulations, they are a grave menace to the lives of the travelling public and I cannot too strongly recommend the Commissioners to bring this fact to the notice of H.M. Government.

In the report by the Special Committee, already referred to, they say:

:

"Grilles: The grilles are a real source of danger. They interfere with the access of the passengers to the boats and in all probability will be the cause of great loss of life in the event of a vessel carrying them incurring any maritime casualty. The Regulations so far as they relate to grilles are in direct opposition to the pro- visions of The Merchant Shipping Acts. The Board of Trade requirements as to the Survey of Life Saving Appliance 1920, Para. 160 are as follows: 'Proper pro- vision must be made for access of passengers to the embarkation deck and for controlling and martialling them and finally embarking them in the life-boats in the shortest possible time'. The present requirements under the Piracy Preven- tion Regulations are to keep all passengers other than those of first class below the bridge deck which in all river steamers is also the boat deck. In the case of river steamers all access from the main or lower deck is cut off from the next deck above or from the saloon deck by means of locked spar gratings across the companionway. Passengers in the second class accommoda- tion on the saloon deck aft are separated from the first class passengers forward and from the deck above by means of locked gratings and grilles. No officers or guards are below the bridge deck, that is the deck above those on which the majority of the passengers (in many instances over 1000) are carried. In the event of a panic arising from fire, collision or other maritime casualty the people below decks would be unable to reach the boat deck because of the locked grilles. The ships officers in the event of a collision would be fully occupied with their respective duties and therefore unable to attend to the unlocking of the grilles. If the guards had keys it is unlikely that they would have sufficient presence of mind or sufficient initiative to do anything of use. In some steamers which come within the purview of the Regula- tions there are something like 30 locks to unfasten before all the grilles can be opened. No means of releasing bolts simultaneously is feasible in ships of the class concerned. Furthermore, owing to the grilles the crews of these vessels would have the greatest difficulty in getting to the boats themselves. In the event of an outbreak of fire or a collision and a serious loss of life occurring owing to passengers being penned below, who would be held responsible, the Hong Kong Government who framed the Regulations or the. Owners and their officers who were compelled to carry them out?"

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These views are also touched upon in extracts which I am quoting later, but I consider no excuse is required for reiteration in this very important matter.

The Commissioners have no doubt received from other parties suggestions with regard to suppression of outbreaks on board, so I consider perhaps it would be better if I confine my views to the important, and I may say most essential factor, i.e., the preven- tion of pirates boarding as passengers. This matter I brought to the notice of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in July 1923 and can only say that in my opinion the march of events has strengthened my contention that the suggestion put forward should be immediately considered by the Government. In effect, it is the Passenger Depot Scheme, of which the Commissioners already have some knowledge, but in order that the position should be made clear, I will detail what has so far transpired in this connection.