131
No.
7
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR 1896.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
No. 61.
POLICE OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 18th February, 1897.
SIR, I have the honour to forward for the information of Ilis Excellency the Governor, the Criminal Statistics and Report upon the Police Force for the year 1896.
2. The total of all cases reported to the Police was 12,975, shewing a decrease as compared with the return for 1895 of 400 cases or 2.99 per cent.
In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences, there appears a decrease as com- pared with 1895 of 453 cases or 16.37% in the former, and of 53 cases or 0.49 % in the latter category.
3. Table A shows the number and character of the serious and minor offences reported to the Police during the past year, and the number of persons convicted and discharged in connection with those offences.
4. The decrease as compared with 1895 in serious offences of 453 is shewn as follows:-
Decrease.
Robbery with violence,......
Unlawful possession,
Larcenies,
Felonies not already given,
Deduct increase,
•
Increase.
3
Murder,
5
.155
356
Burglary and larceny in dwelling,
39
2
516
Offences against Protection of Women and
Girls Ordinance,
19
63
63
458
It will be observed that the decrease is principally in the offences of Unlawful possession and Larceny, while the largest increase is in Burglaries and larcenies in Dwelling Houses.
. During the 1st quarter of the year there were 522 reports of serious offences; during the 2nd 604, during the 3rd 561 and during the 4th 568.
During the first two quarters the Light and Pass law was very rigidly enforced no less than 2,637 persons being appreliended during that period for contravening it.
During the 3rd quarter this particular law was less rigidly enforced only 652 persons being apprehended, while in the 4th quarter the enforcement of the law was much relaxed only 113 appre- hensions being made in October, 52 in November and 23 in December.
5. MURDERS.
There were no less than 8 cases of murder brought to the notice of the Police during the year. The number is much above the average. The shooting of two guardians of the Peace by prisoners in their custody is the most unsatisfactory feature in the record.
(1.) On the 2nd January at Shankiwan, PAN KON LAI, a coolie, living in the village was shot by an Indian constable stationed there, who immediately afterwards committed suicide. (2.) On the 12th of the same month a Chinese boy 8 years of age was found evidently murdered near the Upper Richmond Road. A silver anklet which the child had been wearing was subsequently found in a pawnshop. The pawnbroker stated that it had been pawned on the 11th January by a boy aged 13 years. No arrest was made. (3.) On the 23rd of February a Chinese residing at Victoria, was found evidently murdered on the road between Wongneichong and Deep Water Bay. The deceased who was in poor circumstances gave out before leaving Victoria that he was going to Wongncichong to collect some money. No arrest was made,
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