On 8 October 1856, the Chinese-owned lorcha "Arrow", which was allegedly sailing under the Red Ensign, was boarded by officials from the Qing water patrol when she entered the Pearl River after they received intelligence that several pirates were on board. They arrested 12 Chinese sailors and took down the Red Ensign from the "Arrow". Parkes protested to Ye against the removal of the Red Ensign because he saw it as an insult to Britain. Ye replied that "Arrow" was owned and crewed by Chinese sailors and the flag was not flying at the time. Parkes considered this action a violation of British treaty rights so he reported the incident to Sir John Bowring, the Governor of Hong Kong, and portrayed it as an insult to Britain.