In my opinion the only alternative to the present system is to increase the number of armed Iaunches available. If another 5 armed Inunches were provided and manned by R.N. Officers and men then the carrying of large armed guards and the sailing in convoy could be abolished. The system of grilles could also be very much decreased.
With the present 4 armed launches plus 5 additional armed launches a system of efficient patrols could be instituted covering the Pearl River and from Wangmun to Kongmun. The number would not be sufficient to cover the West River above Kaukong unless the patrol line elsewhere was weakened. Tt would alco leave the open sea gap between Hongkong waters and the Bocca Tigris forts and Wang-mun, but as river steamers are generally in sight of each other in these parts a successful attempt to pirate them there should be very difficult. Tt would leave the Macao traffic to itself as at present.
With a permanent patrol as suggested not only would river steamers and seagoing traffic be as safe or safer than at present but all the enormous tow traffic would be a great deal better protected. It must never be forgotten that there is an enormous trade carried on in junk Dottoms towed by launches. Many of these launches fly the British flag and a very large proportion of the traffic on these two main routes is en route to or from Hongkong.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.