§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information with regard to an attack made by pirates (who were on board the ship as passengers) on or about 1st December, 1890, on a steamer voyaging from Hong Kong to Swatow, in which a passenger named Petersen and the Captain (Captain Pocock) were killed, and property to the value of £5,000 was taken by the pirates, who escaped from the ship by boats; and what steps have been taken to bring the perpetrators of this outrage to punishment?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONSince answering the question put by the hon. Member for East Grinstead on the 2nd of February, the Admiral on the Station has reported that he had sent two ships of war to visit certain places to the north and south of Hong Kong, where it was thought some information might be obtained, but they totally failed to learn anything of value, and up to the 8th of January the pirates were still at large, instructions are being sent to the Governor of Hong Kong to report what measures he proposes to take with a view to preventing the surreptitious embarkation of arms by Chinese passengers in future.