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616
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH AUGUST, 1880.
Inspector GRAY says:—
"With reference to your memorandum of the 24th instant respecting the regular duties of the "Police and the two-thirds principle, I have to report that so far as the night time is concert "the two-thirds system works well. There has been a marked decrease in burglaries and larcenies "from dwelling houses in the night time since it was adopted on the 19th of March, 1879."
Inspector LINDSAY says:---
"The two-thirds system lately introduced, is in my opinion a better mode of regulating the nigh duties than that previously adopted. And it appears to me that crime has becoine greatly redund thereby."
LL
Inspector CORCORAN says:-~~-
"In my opinion the two-thirds system has worked vell up to the present. Crimes committed 'between the hours of 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. have greatly decreased since the working of the system."
Inspector CRADOCK "finds the present system works well."
Inspector RIVERS says :—
'I beg to state that during the time the two-thirds system has been in force, there has only been one case of robbery between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. in this district.
"The men at first seemed a little dissatisfied, but now they seem settled to the duties, and prefer "the new system to the old.
"I would like that two men be taken from the 10 P.M. duty and put on the 2 P.M., on account "of the frequent disturbances with the Naval and Military, the Naval Club being in the district, and "Soldiers being on the streets till 9 P.M."
6. Most of the Inspectors, however, as well as Mr. DEANE, suggest that the force should be strengthened so as to have the day working better done and more rest given to the men. With this object, I am sanctioning a moderate addition to the Police Force, respecting which I will have the honour of addressing you in a separate despatch.
7. On my return from Japan in September, Mr. DEANE, in reply to an enquiry on the subject. informed me that the operation of the two-thirds night duty system continued to be effective in pre- venting crime.
8. Mr. CREAGH, the Acting Senior Police Magistrate, also attributes the improvement to the two- thirds night duty system.
I have, &c.,
The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bt., M.P., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonics,
Sc.,
&c.,
Sc.
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
EXTRACT FROM PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, 6TH NOVEMBER, 1879.
it.
The GOVERNOR said:--The question of the Police Force in this Colony has engaged the attention of the Government more than once. We have had of late years two Committees or Commissious sitting upon the subject. I appointed a Committee, presided over by my lamented friend, Mr. May. to investigate the question of Police and crine in the Colony. I had previously taken the responsi bility, I think in August, or September, 1878, of giving instructions to Mr. DEANE, the Captain Superintendent, to strengthen the right force, and I pointed out the desirability of having the nigla duties of the force increased thirty-three per cent. The Committee I appointed examined Mr. DEASE. Mr. CREAGH, and a number of the Inspectors and other persons competent to give advice on the subject. No one indeed was more competent than the Chairman himself to form an opinion upon They arrived at the conclusion that the two-thirds night system, as it is called, should be tried, and that the system would probably tend to diminish crime, for they expressed a decided opinion that the Colony was not adequately policed at night time. Well, that report was laid before Her Majesty's Government, and about the same time, or indeed a little before that report reached the Government. they also received from two important sections of the Community the opinions of those sections upen that very question as to the Police. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH received a memorial addressed to him by all the leading Chinese merchants of the Community, in which, amongst other things, they expressed an opinion that the town had not been for some years adequately policed at night, and expressed a hope that he would sanction a moderate increase of the Police Force. On the other hand. a resolution was also laid before Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH in which some of the European section of the Community took a different view, and thought no change was necessary in the Police arrange, ments of the Colony. Well, that point has been considered carefully by the Secretary of State, in! he has conveyed to me the decision that he entirely approves of the two-thirds system of night duty. and he asks me also carefully to consider the question whether some increase ought not to be made is