134
15. LICENSES.
The following licenses were issued during the year by this 'Department:
500 Hongkong Jiurickshaws.
60 Kowloon.
25 Quarry Bay
""
714 Private Vehicles. 438 Hongkong Chairs.
30 Hill District Chairs.
7 Garis.
6,564 Drivers and Bearers.
16. DOGS ORDINANCE.
1,671 dogs were licensed.
127
60
**
"}
14
destroyed.
restored to their owners. ransomed.
17. ARMS ORDINANCE.
A statement is annexed showing the amount of arins and ammunition exported from the Colony, under permits from this Department, during the year.
18. MENDICANTS.
In addition to the 37 beggars sent up to the Police Court, 163 have been summarily deported to Kowloon City and Canton as follows:-
•
HOW OFTEN SENT AWAY.
Once,
Twice,
Thrice,
4 Times,
TOTAL,.........
TOTAL NUMBER,
CANTON.
KOWLOON.
SENT AWAY.
109
30
139
18
5
23
.3
1
4
1
1
2
131
37
168
19. POLICE FORCE.
Table E shows the strength, enlistments and casualties in the Police Force during 1896.
Five recruits were obtained from the London Metropolitan Police, three from the Aberdeen Police Force, and one from the Royal Irish Constabulary. Two recruits were obtained from England and three from Ireland who had no previous Police service. These men were all enlisted by myself and have given great satisfaction.
20. CONDUCT OF FORCE.
The conduct of the European Force has been good.
The number of reports against Europeans was 53 against 48 in 1895, of these 13 were for drunkenness against 8 in 1895. 7 for disorderly conduct, assaults and fighting, 4 for sitting down on duty as against 4 and 3 respectively; 2 for asleep on duty and 6 for neglect of duty against 5 and 5 respectively.
The conduct of the Indian Contingent has been less satisfactory.
There were 303 reports against men of the Indian Contingent, while only 162 were recorded in 1895, but the Indian Force stood 40% greater in strength last year than in the previous year.
Of the reports 16 were for drunkenness against 12 in 1895, 22 for disorderly conduct and fighting against 11, neglect of duty 33. against 15, 46 for absence from duty, drill &c. against 22, 49 for idling &c. on duty against 33, while 16 were asleep on duty against 9 in 1895. Two members of the Contingent were convicted before the Magistrate--one for larceny and one for wilfully damaging
property.
Members of the Chinese Force were reported 452 times against 512 in 1895. The Contingent has much improved in matters of discipline.