153
I have again during last year advocated the licensing of domestic servants. Several families were boycotted by their chair coolies during the year, because the coolies objected to do a reasonable day's work. Coolies who are dismissed for misconduct or dishonesty, find re-employment as readily as do well- conducted and honest men. Under a system of licensing and registration such would be impossible.
16.
Dogs Ordinance.
1,622 dogs were licensed.
12 watch dogs were licensed.
102 dogs were destroyed.
29
restored to their owners.
"
99
17.
7 dogs were ransomed.
ARMS ORDINANCE.
No export permits were issued by this Department during the year.
18.
MENDICANTS.
In addition to 21 beggars dealt with by the Police Magistrate, 195 were summarily deported to Canton as follows:-
19.
Once, Twice, Thrice,... Four times,
HOW OFTEN SENT AWAY.
CANTON.
156
27
11
1
TOTAL,
195
POLICE FORCE.
Table E. shows the strength, enlistments and casualties in the Police Force during 1897. Four recruits were obtained from the Glasgow, and one from the Edinburgh. Police Force. One recruit was obtained from Scotland and one from Ireland who had no previous Police Service.
20.
CONDUCT OF THE FORCE.
Leaving out of account the Wa Lane Bribery Scandal, the conduct of the Force has on the whole been good.
The number of reports against Europeans was 46 against 53 in 1896; of these 13 were for drunk- enness being the same number as in the previous year; 2 for disorderly conduct, assaults and fighting, 1 for sitting down on duty as against 7 and 4 respectively; 4 for asleep on duty and 3 for neglect of duty against 2 and 6 respectively.
There were 297 reports against men of the Indian Contingent, while 303 were reported in 1896. Of the reports 12 were for drunkenness, being the same number as in 1896, 13 for disorderly con- duct and fighting against 22; 44 for neglect of duty against 33; 45 for absence from duty, drill, &c., against 46; 47 for idling, &c., on duty against 49; while 21 were asleep on duty against 16 in 1896. Two members of the Contingent were convicted before the Magistrate for larceny, and one for being found in a common gaming-house.
Members of the Chinese Force were reported 402 times against 452 in 1896.
No case of drunkenness has occurred in this Contingent during 1896 and 1897. There has been a large decrease in the offence of asleep on duty, there being 22 cases against 61 in 1896, for disorderly conduct and assault the reports increased from 8 to 12; absence from duty was less, being 117 against 141; sitting down, &c., on duty showed 83 against 76, while for leaving beats, &c., before relief they
fell from 6 to 3.
Of the Contingent two men were convicted before a Magistrate one for larceny, and one for extort- ing money from hawkers.