The announcement has just been rade that the British Goyerument ie-considering the whole question of the provision of patrol boats for the West River. This is welcome news, for Hongkong papers report ciminous ict on the part of the Firates on that river, 30. much {that shipowners whose boats trade, there are in a highly nervous state. This is due to the fact. that recently the pirates sent letters to Hongkong demanding the payment of blackmail, and although. there. has been only one piracy since, the trade to West River ports, both as regards
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