Hongkong, Sept. 12, The Chinese-owned steamer Hons: Feng, or Fung Peng as the vessel is known among local Chinese, arrived here this afternoon escorted by His Majesty's destroyer Sepoy.
The report that there were pirates aboard has turned out to be a false alarm, On the arrival of the vessel the police immediately boarded her and cerned out a thorough investiga. tion. All the passengers, 1,600 in umber, most of whom. were aged Chinese of the poorest class, were searched and closely questioned, but nothing of a suspicious natare was discovered and no arrests were made.
The piracy scare originated with rumours started by Chinese at! Singapore. The owners wirelessed the Hong Pen that they had heard pirates were aboard. On receipt of the message the master of Hays made preparations to repel the ex-Pected piratical attack—Reuter. to the Tokyo Welfare] Board of the Tome Ministry. the labour disputes for July Tast_ num. bered 200 participated in by 18,287 people. Such high monthly figare has been unknown before, ' The number of the disputes is just double the figure for July last year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.