121
CONDUCT.
26. The conduct of the European contingent has been on the whole good. The total number of reports against them was 56 as against 59 in 1206. There were 16 reports for being drunk or under the influence of drink as against 10 in 1906; one for sleeping on duty (same as last year), 3 for disorderly conduct and 2 for neglect of duty. Nine of the 16 cases of drunkenness, and 15 of the other offences, were committed by men who are no longer in the Force. One European Constable was convicted by the Police Magistrate for being drunk and incapable when off duty, one for assault and one for desertion. had no offence recorded against them.
90 men
The conduct of the Indian contingent was fair. There were 465 reports, as against 448 for the preceding year. For drunkenness there were 61 as against 45, for disorderly conduct 23, as against 33, for neglect of duty 52 as against 46, for absence from duty 51 as against 65, for gossiping and idling on duty 91 as against 107 and for sleeping on duty 40 as against 35. Anxiety to get away to Canada caused men to commit themselves in order to be released from their engagements. 211 men had no report. Nine Indian Constables were convicted by the Police Magistrate, 5 for assault, 1 for indecent behaviour, 1 for being drunk and unfit for duty, 1 for disobeying orders and 1 for larceny.
The behaviour of the Chinese contingent showed improvement. There were al- together 1,086 reports, as against 1,129 in 1906. There were 5 reports for drunk- enness as against 1, 104 for sleeping on duty as against 113, 11 for disorderly conduct as against 23, and 356 for minor offences as against 387.
Two Sergeant Interpreters were convicted by the Police Magistrate, 1 for larceny and 1 for forging the signature of a European Sergeant and 8 Constables for the following offences: 3 for assault, 1 for giving false testimony, 3 for demanding money by menaces and 1 for larceny.
167 men of this contingent were not reported during the year.
The Seamen, Coxswains, Engineers and Stokers had 228 reports as compared with 300 for last year. For drunkenness there was no report (same as last year), 102 for absence from Station and late for duty as against 193 in the previous year.
Two Seamen were convicted by the Police Magistrate, one for fighting and one for larceny; and one Engineer for assault.
63 had no report recorded against them.
REWARDS.
27. Two European Sergeants were granted medals for smart and energetic detective work and one Chinese Constable was granted a medal for long and faithful service; two Chinese Constables were granted rewards for zeal displayed in the discharge of their duty and one Chinese Constable was commended by His Excellency the Governor and granted a reward for plucky conduct in arresting a soldier for robbery. A European Lance Sergeant and a European Constable were commended for rescuing two Chinese from drowning.
NOTABLE EVENTS.
28. At about 1 p.m. on the 28th January a sudden and very violent squall, accom- panied by heavy rain and hail, swept over the island and harbour, capsizing many boats and causing loss of life. Seventy-one rowing boats, 22 cargo boats, 7 junks, 1 fishing boat and 1 ballast boat were capsized in the harbour, and 24 adults and 48 children were drowned; 50 bodies were subsequently recovered by the Police, and 6 by the Tung Wah Hospital launch. Launches and boats belonging to the Police, Harbour, Naval and Military Depart- ments, besides a number of privately owned ones, were soon at work rescuing people from the water and righting the capsized craft. Through their means about 110 persons were rescued from drowning. A Chinese launch owner named NG SO TAI dived beneath a cap- sized sampan and, at the risk of his own life, rescued therefrom a woman and child. For this brave act he was subsequently awarded the Belilios Medal.