230
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20тп APRIL, 1872.
7. I may perhaps be allowed a word as to the Staff required at the outstations. A cry was raised during the year under review about some imaginary interference of this Department with the Police. The gentlemen with whom this became a fixed idea were perhaps not aware that in 1866-67 three Inspectors were added to the Police force for the Harbour Master's Stations. So that to point out that these men are taken away by Marine duties from their proper work, is simply to complain that officers, who can conveniently undertake collateral Police duties, have still to devote some atten- tion to the particular objects for which they were specially engaged.
8. I would point out that, at the outstations in question, the village may be taken, in a very important sense, to consist of Junks more than of houses. To have a Police officer on shore watching the houses and ignoring the shipping, or vice versa, would be a most fatal mistake.
9. Again, there is not, at any one of the stations, sufficient separate work, either on land or afloat, to keep an Inspector wholesomely employed, and occupy his whole attention. But the two taken together both help and check each other. I need only cite certain cases at Shau-ki Wan in proof of this. In one instance, the late Inspector ANNINGSON, boarding a Junk in his Marine capacity, found some dead bodies under hatches, and this circumstance led to most important captures by the Police. I cannot suppose that he would have been better employed waiting for something to occur on shore. I trust these few explanatory remarks will dispel what I cannot but regard as a pernicious error. I believe the Police authorities will agree with me when I say, that to separate the joint Police and Marine control of the outstations, on the ground of an interference which does not exist, would be pushing a theory, that happens to have a plausible look on paper, to a most injurious extent.
10. I understand that it is proposed to have a joint Police and Harbour Station at Kowloon. I consider such an arrangement would be highly desirable. Could the new station be connected with this Office by a short telegraphic cable it would have little to be desired in the means of control of the Harbour.
11. Whilst I am on the subject of the existing preventive service, I may revert to a sentence in the Harbour Master's Report for 1870, which appears to have given rise to a misunderstanding. I allude to the statement that, "Piracy, once so rife in these waters, is now seldom, if ever heard of."
12. This would, at first sight, seem directly opposed to the Police returns, which shew each a considerable number of piracy cases. But it seems sufficiently clear that the Harbour Master was referring to attacks on foreign vessels, such cases as those of the Cæsar and Lubra for instance, which are now seldom if ever heard of.
year
13. Robberies by one Chinese craft from another, committed sometimes at a distance of one or two hundred miles from this Colony, are reported and recorded as Piracies," and these of course conti- nue to occur, there is no prospect of their ceasing. But there is a discernible difference between these and the disgraceful piratical trade once carried on in this Town and Harbour.
14. The prohibition of Stinkpots ordered by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in Council on August 16th, 1870, has been enforced within our waters. The effect has not been to create the panic usually attendant on any such change of legislation; but only, I think, because subterfuges to evade the law are both obvious and easy.
15. Stinkpots can be manufactured at a few moment's notice out of various articles necessarily carried in every Junk; and they can be as quickly destroyed, at a most trifling loss, the powder being saved. Thus it is perfectly possible for every Junk to conforin to the law here, and yet be always furnished with Stinkpots on the coast or in the rivers.
16. Until Chinese waters become safer, I cannot think the Junk people much to blame in adopt- ing every possible means of defence. Sometimes passengers or shippers insist on the Master's pro- viding Stinkpots.
17. Although the regulation is made in pursuance of an Ordinance for co-operation with the Chinese Authorities against Piracy; as far as I can learn, it is only on our side that any effort is made in the matter. That, when Stinkpots were said to be prohibited in Chinese waters, more Junks arrived with them from Canton than from any other place, does not perhaps prove anything, as they might have been made en route. But, as far as my information extends, they are made, carried, and used in the Chinese rivers quite unchecked and unchallenged; and they are certainly carried on the Coast without let or hindrance.
men.
18. 7,771 men have been shipped during the year, against 7,507 discharged. The subject of des- titute seamen excited considerable public interest about twelve months ago, but this would appear to have died away, and the question is just where it was. I am convinced that the only remedy for many existing evils would be for the Government to take the whole charge of boarding and shipping sea- Accommodation for each nationality, infinitely better than that of the present wretched board- ing houses, does not necessarily involve a costly building, and the whole scheme should be as distinct from any considerations of profit as is the Gaol or the Central School. Nevertheless, I am sure that, even including what I may call a Deserter's Ward, in which the barest necessaries of life should be supplied to those who cannot legally claim any relief whatever, the system would more than pay
its own expenses.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. H. CAIRNS, Acting Harbour Master.
The Honourable CECIL C. SMITII,
Acting Colonial Secretary. &c.,
&c.,
&c.,