77
No.
4
93
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR 1892.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 8th February, 1893.
No. 24.
POLICE DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 19th January, 1893.
SIR, I have the honour to submit, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Police Report for the year 1892.
2. The total number of cases brought to the notice of the Police during the year was 9,730 against 10,869 in 1891, being a decrease of 1,139 cases, or a decrease of 10.47 per cent.
Subdivided into serious and minor offences (so-called) there were in 1892, 2,983 cases of the former class against 2,994 in 1891, shewing a decrease of 11 cases or 0.36 per cent., and in the latter class 6,747 cases against 7,875 in 1891, giving a decrease of 1,128 cases or a decrease of 14.32 per
cent.
3. During the year there were 3 cases of murder, the victims being a boatman named CHEUNG CHI, an Indian watchman named RAMSAMMY, and a man named CHUNG Ho. In connection with the second case two Indians were committed for trial, and acquitted: in the other two cases the Police were unable to effect any arrests.
4. There were two serious cases of manslaughter during the year. In connection with the first two coolies were arrested, but there was not sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction: in the second case the assailant made good his escape, before his arrest could be effected.
5. Of the Highway Robberies the most flagrant case was that which occurred on the 11th July, when two men employed by the Dairy Farm Co. were waylaid and robbed by five men unknown on the Pokfulam Road. The Police had no means of tracing these men, and no arrests were made.
6. The facilities for leaving the Colony and the proximity of the mainland of China added to the reluctance of respectable people to lay information against criminals or to come forward as witnesses against them render it very difficult for the Police to bring the guilty parties to justice. In many instances the offender has made good his escape, before the Police have received information of the offence, and on many occasions a case has broken down through the reluctance of witnesses to come forward and give evidence.
7. Only three cases of Piracy have been reported during the year, all of which took place in Chinese waters. Several arrests were subsequently made by the Portuguese and Chinese Authorities in connection with these piracies.
Every precaution has been taken against a repetition of the Namoa calamity, and steamers carrying Chinese passengers have been regularly searched before leaving the port.
8. All the Police Stations are in good repair. The new station at Kennedy Town was occupied by the Police on the 31st December.
9. The health of the Police Force has been good, only 7 deaths occurring, including one European. There has been a marked decrease in the number of casualties, there being only 87 as against 142 in 1891.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
A. GORDON, Captain Supt. of Police.