POLICE
(Contd.)
का भाष
In the Spring of 1864, the Colonial Secretary, while acknowledging the intelligence and zeal of the new Superintendent and his assistant (Mr. J. Jarman) stated that the men of the Corps, whether European or Indian, were wanting in most of the essentials of a police force. Bribery and corruption particularly, were considered ineradicable among the Indian contingent.
The right of police to use firearms in the case of suspects refusing to stop when challenged was judicially inquired into in July, 1864, when a constable who had shot a boatman trying to escape search, was put on a charge of murder. The verdict of justifiable homicide was satisfactory to the police.
To stimulate zeal, regulations were framed in October, 1864 awarding gratuities in cases of special merit. Wholesale deportation of crowds of professional beggars were resorted to in the summer of this year, and the parasites sent back to Canton.
The Criminal history of this period presents some novel features.
In January, 1860, one of the most popular compradores, Tam Achoy distinguished himself by collecting in Hong Kong an armed corps of Puntis, officered by some foreign seamen, whom he dispatched by s.s. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy to the San-ning district, S. W. Macao, with a considerable supply of arms and ammunition. On arrival at San-ning this corps of Hong Kong freebooters took an active part in the internecine war going on at that time between the Punti and Hakka clans of that district. When the Hong Kong Police learned that two of the foreign leaders of this buccaneering expedition had been killed in a battle, Tam Achoy was arrested and charged with murder. It appeared, however, that before sending off the expedition, Tam Achoy had given a formal notice to a Government officer of his intentions and received no warning of the illegality of his proceedings. The indictment having been broken down for want of evidence, Tam Achoy was advised to plead guilty of misdemeanour and was discharged with a reprimand.
The peninsula of Kowloon presented for several days in August, 1862, the novel aspect of an animated battle field, as the Punti inhabitants of the neighbouring villages were engaged in a bloody warfare with the Hakka settlers at Tsimshatsui.
Another article on the early history of the Hong Kong Police Force will appear to-morrow.
Since the period of Sir Hercules Robinson's administration (1859–1865) was featured by unusual activity, it was only natural that the criminal classes should take a prominent place in the news of the day. The Police Force of Hong Kong had its hands full in that hectic period and while its status did not materially improve, it was always sure of the kindly encouragement and deep personal interest of His Excellency.
The most renowned crime of this period was the so-called opium swindle, which was perpetrated by an Indian merchant, with the assistance of an Englishman in charge of the opium stored on the receiving ship, Tropic. Together, they defrauded the Chartered Mercantile Bank and others of some two million dollars, by means of forged opium certificates.
Many daring burglaries and murderous attacks were made during this period by armed gangs. The signal station at the Peak was raided on July 27, 1863; a number of men were assaulted at the Artillery Barracks on October 11 of the same year, and an open attack was made on the offices of Messrs Holiday, Wise and Company.
But the most novel feature of the depredations resorted to by the Chinese was the ingenuity and engineering skill displayed by the so-called Drain Gangs.
The godowns of Smith, Archer and Company, the jewellery store of Douglas Lapraik, and the treasure vaults of the Central Bank of Western India were successively attacked by burglars who used...