546
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH SEPTEMBER,
The Right Honourable Sir Michael Hicks-Beach,
Bart., M.P., to His Excellency Governor
Pope Hennessy, C.M.G.
1879.
No. 81.
DowNING STREET,
17th July, 1879.
SIR,I have had under consideration your
Despatch No. 100 of the 16th October, 1878,
transmitting a copy of the Resolutions passed at
a Public Meeting held in Hongkong on the 7th
October, 1878.
I have deferred replying to that Despatch until
I was in possession of the Report of the Com-
mittee which you appointed on the 30th of
September, to consider matters connected with
the Police Force, and the condition of crime in the Colony.
The return of cases of Serious Crime appended
to that Report gives the following results:-
1867.
.1458
1868.
.1249
1869..
967
1870.
.1357
1871.
...1434
1872.....
.1394
1873...
.1316
-1874......
.1165
1875.
.1395
1876.
.1485
1877
...1966 *
1878 to August 31st ...1823
1878 to December 31st.2611
(Gazette, 15th February, 1879.)
The increase during the year 1877-78.coupled (as it appears from the evidence to have been) with a simultaneous advance by the criminal classes in audacity, combination, and the habit of carrying arms, may not unnaturally have caused a feeling of alarm to the residents in the Colony, especially after the occurrence of so daring an outrage as the attack in Wing-Lok
Street.
I do not, however, consider it necessary to send out a special Commission as requested in the 5th Resolution of that Meeting.
I feel assured that any cause for fear may and will be removed by the action of the Local
fovernment.
I request you to transmit a copy of this Des- patch to the Chairman of the Public Meeting.
To
I have the honour to be,
Sir.
Your most obedient uumble Servant.
M. E. HICKS-Beach.
Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G..
se..
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大英國會參議藩政院世襲男爵赫
咨覆事照得本大臣籌度裁答
欽命總督香港等處地方兼理水陸軍務水師提督御賜佩帶三等寶星燕 前此所有驚恐原故 貴部堂經已力爲調處一切消除爲此咨覆仰 貴部堂將此咨文抄付羣庶主席一體知照須至咨覆者 右覆 一時驚恐案驚恐原由仍以永樂街明火搶劫之事爲最惟本大臣未見有何緣故准從羣庶議定第五欸所請特派委員前往稽查案本大臣確知 一日止二千六百一十一案由此可見丁丑戊寅二年間罪案增多又查該委員抄集探訪傳足徵當時匪黨張胆聯結敢用銃難怪香港居民 三百九十五案丙子年一千四百八十五案丁丑年一千九百六十六案戊寅年英八月三十一日止一千八百二十三案戊寅年英十二月三十 一千三百五十七案辛未年一千四百三十四案壬申年一千三百九十四案癸酉年一千三百一十六案甲戌年一千一百六十五案乙亥年一千 由戊寅年英二月十五日香港轅報照抄所有重罪案件卽丁卯年一千四百五十八案戊辰年一千二百四十九案已巳年九百六十七案庚午年 者因欲先接 貴部堂於英九月三十日所派委員稽查關涉差役情事并罪案若干之公文然後咨覆現准 貴部堂咨文內附該委員申呈開列 方初七日齊集議定各欸謄抄】紙前來本大臣所以稽遲裁答
貴部堂戊寅年英十月十六日郵寄第一百號咨文内附香港羣庶於戊寅年
一千八百七十九年七月初十日