The trouble caused to shipping conipanies operating on the West River by Chinese military officers demanding passages and the right to carry arms has recently been emphasized by an incident aboard the str. Tai Ming, of the Kwong Wing: Company, says a Hongkong paper. Several' cases of this kind have occurred recently, with the result that the British Consular authorities have been compelled to Girect the attention of owners vessels flying the British flag to pesrloes waratngs on the vice ject, In the ease of the Tai Ming it transpires that whilst at Samshui three Chinese military officers attempted to board the vessel to take Passage to Wuchow, but were refused passage cly the master (Capt. Spinks) on the ground that they were armed, The ficers protested that they were carrying important despatches to Wuchow, and refused to leave the vessel, Later the Captain informed a British gunboat at Haulick and the three officers wore ut ashore, When they reached Wuchow, the: officers reported the matter to the military authorities, with the result that an.armed guard was posted at the wharf of the Tai Ming, and, under the pretext that they had' come to search for "reactionaries," prevented all Chinese passengers from boarding the vessel. All the approaches to the vessel were guarded and even members of the sult, th Tai Ming left" Wuchow later without Chinese passengers oF cargo.
Great precautions have to be taken on the West River owing to presence of bandits, and in this connexion it is recalled that as long. go as 1928 the British Consul at Shamieen informed the shipping companies plying vessels onthe West River run that the carriage" of Chinese troops was prohibited owing to the necessity for rusin taining a neutral attitude in the Chinese civil wars, The Consul then stated that, in consequence of an equi subject, he had tel Majesty's Minister task whether, in view of the cossation of hostilities, objection to the carriage of troops was, withdrawn, After consultation with the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, His Majesty's Minister instructed the British Consul that the transport of troops way authorized, provided that no arms were carried, Tt was. added that rms belonging troops might not be taken, even in the custody of the ship's officers, og it was considered that this would bbe an invitation to piracy.
On April 12th, 1980, the Kwong Wing Shipping' Company was again warned by the British cone sular authorities at Shameen, the letter from the Consul reading have to remind you of the tions contained in Mr, "Acting sneral Brenan's letter of to the effect "se troops should rot be carried in ships flying the British flag, Cases have come to, my note in which a disregard of these instructions has led to mis understandings, and I should be glad if you would see that if Chinese troops are carried en your ves sels in future they are not allowed them." to take any arms on board
Tt is in consequence of these in-us that the shipping comoneerned are now refusing to allow armed Chinese military: affeers to take passage on their!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.