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(2) Will automatically send out the ship's call sign, signal of distress, and latitude and longitude of ship's position for five minutes at an average of about 40 seconds per cycle, even when the Key and all parts of the ship's wireless set, necessarily exposed in the Wireless cabin for ordinary work, have been put out of action by the pirates.
(8) The latitude and longitude can be altered by the officer of the watch at inter- vals, to correspond with the progress of the ship, by the adjustment of four levers, and that the action of setting the whole mechanism in motion automatically locks up and prevents access to the levers governing such adjustments.
The weak points of both these schemes are that at present in Hong Kong the carrying of wireless telegraphy apparatus is not compulsory. In the case of ships registered in the United Kingdom, the carrying of wireless telegraphy is compulsory, vide Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act, 1919. (9 and 10 Geo. 5, c. 38.) in which it is enacted that "every seagoing British ship registered in the United King- dom being a passenger steamer or a ship of sixteen hundred tons gross tonnage or upwards shall be provided with a wireless telegraphy installation" etc. etc., Board of Trade reserving authority to make exemptions under certain conditions.
Should wireless telegraphy be considered an indispensable part of a ship's anti- piracy fittings, which is the opinion of the Commissioners, it should be made compulsory. This however is a matter for consideration as a set of K.W. suitable for river craft would cost about £300, and higher powered sets pro rata. The Automatic Distress call me- chanism is however cheap, estimated at £15 or £20, but the expense of installation would come on the encasing of the ship's transmitter in a bullet proof container.
Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages and it is the opinion of the Commissioners, that to provide an efficient safeguard both systems should be adopted concurrently.
Acetylene flare signal.-A system of signals has been put forward by Mr. T. E. Jackson, Assistant Government Marine Surveyor by which a very brilliant acetylene gas light, fixed in position at the fore-mast head, may be ignited by a bell push or other suitable contrivance placed in various positions in the ship. It is so constructed that once ignited it cannot be put out without climbing the mast and break- ing up the mechanism. The exhibition of such light would be a signal that the ship had been pirated and was in need of assistance. No attention should be paid by other ships to any signal from the ship exhibiting such a light, saying that the exhibiting of such a light had been done in error, as should the pirate notice such light, it is almost certain that they would force the master or other officers at the pistol's point to make an O.K. signal to any ship that closed.
Appendix III.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
MINORITY REPORT of the COMMITTEE appointed by HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR to consider certain proposals with regard to the prevention of piracy.
We the minority members of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into certain further proposals with regard to the prevention of piracy have the honour to submit the following report and recommendations.
In September 1924 The Honourable The Colonial Secretary wrote to The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and The Combined China Coast Officers Guild stating that "certain
"certain further proposals"
with
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