234
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Value of property reported stolen during the
$57,559.
Recovered by the Police and restored to owners, 512,049.
Articles reported lost 152, valued at $2,752. Articles found 63, valued at $736,
three months of 1894 during the epidemic the town was largely depleted of its Chinese popula-year tion, in which doubtless many of the thieving class as well as their prey were absent. This Idea is strengthened by a comparison of 1895 with 1893, which was a normal year as to population. This comparison shows an increase of only 1.54 per cent. in 1895 over 1893. The increase in minor offences is largely due to miscellaneous offences which may be classed as offences against sanitary arrangements, good order in streets, and kindred offences, while the enforcement of the Light and Pass Ordinance is responsible for 2,5 more cases than in 1894. Three murders came under notice of the Police in 1895
L-On the 14th February about 9 p.m. Havildar Umraz Khan, Hongkong Regi ment, was shot near the camp and died the next morning. His supposed assailant Private Nanal Shah was arrested on the statement of the wounded man, but no other evidence was obtainable and the man was discharged at the Police Court. 2-On the 16th February a quarrel took place in a boat lying off Bonham Strand between four Chinese boatmen. Two'were wounded and sent to hospital; one of these men Sing Sheung Li died from the effects of his wounds on the 27th February. 8-John Gunderson, seaman, belonging to the Geo. F. Manson, sailing ship, was re- ported missing from his vessel on the 6th October and was subsequently found murdered on Cowee Chau Island. Two boat people, a man and his wife (in whose boat Gunderson is said to have been), were arrested and charged with the murder, but were discharged for want of evidence at the October Sessions.
HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.
On the 19th January a man was stopped, pepper thrown in his eres by three men (one armed with a knife), on the Shaukiwan Road between Bay View and North Point, and money stolen from him to the amount of £370.
On the 24th January a man was stopped ou the Magazine Gap Road by three men, one of whom was armed with a knife and who robbed him of clothing and money value 814.
On the 5th February a woman while crossing the Military Rifle Range was assaulted and robbed of ten silver dollars by two men.
On the 16th July a man was stopped on the Shaukiwan Road and robbed of five dollars by two men.
On the 9th September a boy was thrown down by another on the Bonham Road and robbed of a bangle valued at $6.
On the 1st October two men stopped another on the Morrision Hill Road, throw tobaco dust in his face, and robbed him of $20.
GANG ROBBERIES.
On the 18th November about 6.30 p.m., three men armed with revolvers entered No. 106, Praya West, overawed the shop people and stole a silver watch value $5.
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Articles found claimed by owners 32. The coal and cargo codlies struck on the 23rd March in consequence of the enforcement from the 1st January of the by-laws for the licensing and registration of common lodging-honges under the Public Health Ordinance.
Every endeavour had been made by the Re- gistrar-General to explain the by-laws, not only personally to the keepers of the houses but also by the circulation of 3,000 printed translations of the by-laws.
On the 20th March. twenty-seven of the principal lodging-bonse keepers were afforded another opportunity to conform to the by-laws, by the Acting President of the Sanitary Board, Not who desired them to attend at his office. one attended and they were all summoned.
On the 22nd only one keeper answered to his summons at the Magistracy.
Warrauta were issued for the other 26, search was made for them, but they had absconded.
The Police were strengthened and picquets patrolled the streets as well as the harbour in pinnaces.
On the 23rd on the arrival of the Macao steamer the only attempt at a disturbance took place. A number of stevedore coolies on strike endeavoured to interfere with the coolies who attended regularly to carry baggage and goods ashore.
The Police had no difficulty in dispersing the crowd, and two men were arrested (by Chinese constables, convicted, and fined $15 each or six weeks' hard labour.
By the evening 3,000 coolies were on strike. On the 24th the whole of the coal coglies joined the strikers.
On the 25th fifty convicts coaled the steamer Ferona and 100 men of the Rifle Brigade dis charged the steamer Pékin.
The 200 Swalow coolies of the Kowloon Go. down Company did not strike being protected by a guard of the Hongkong Regiment, who guarded the wharves till the end of the strike.
There was an arrest for intimidation this day, the 25th, in Victoria, the prisoner being convicted and sentenced to three months” perd
labour.
The hands in the Quarry Bay Refinery struck work.
On the 25th and 26th several steamers went round to Aberdeen and discharged cargo there, the coolies being guarded by Police in launches afloat and by patrols on the roads.
On the 26th the cargo boatmen endeavoured to strike, but on being warned by the Police that they could not leave the waters of the colony without a clearance, and their securities being dealt with by the Registrar-General, remained passive, though private individuals could only hire them through the Police.
The hands at the Lee Yuan Refinery struck
On the 22nd November at 9.30 p.m., three men armed with revolvers entered No. 124, Wellington Street (raw opium shop) and simi-work. larly robbed the people, stealing notes and silver value $900.
STREET ROBBERIES,
On the 30th December, 1894, a man Was drugged and robbed of $20 by gamblers in Third Street. His report was considered doubtful, as he had been gambling.
About midnight, the 3rd and 4th January, a man boarded a boat in Yanmati Harbour, seized a woman by the throat and stole from the boat some jewellery. Four men were concerned.
On the 3rd July two men threw popper in the eyes of another in Queen's Road West and robbed him of a bundle of clothing value $2.
On the 12th July a man was robbed of his parse containing 35 cents by three men Queen's Road Central.
in
On the 15th August a man was pushed down in Fat Hing Street by three mon, who robbed him of $7.25.
Two cases, included in the Returns as Felonies not already given, occurred in Manila and were sent here by the Consular Authorities to be tried.
4 Europeans, attempted murder, April ses-
s ons, ship Launburga. Convicted.
1 European, manslaughter, June sessions, ship Esther Roy. Convicted.
[March 18, 1898.
On the 2nd the Brigadier in charge at Chi- nese Kowloon drove away the head coolies.
On the 3rd the Police engaged 1,000 coolies at 75 cents a day for employers of labour.
At noon on the 4th the strike was at an end. A picquet from the Rifle Brigade did duty at Quarry Bay, from the 26th March till the end of the strike.
During the strike from the 25th March till 4th April inclusive 2,622 men of the Rifle Brigade, 1,860 men of the Hongkong Regi ment, and 189 officers and non-commissioned officers of both regiments did duty guarding workmen and discharging ships.
562 convicts coaled and discharged vessela. and 632 blue jackets and marines rendered valu. able services coaling.
The special constables (Petty Officers R.N.) performed their duties very satisfactorily, and conducted themselves in a most exemplary manner.
The Police of all ranks and nationalities dis- played much energy, discretion, and good temper during the strike.
Inspectors Stanton and Hennessy rendered most valuable services in hiring coolies and cargo boats respectively.
Fifty-five offenders were arrested during the strike, and punishments inflicted varying from three months' hard labour to $1 or seven days' hard labour.
On the 28th March Police Sergeant Molver was appointed as temporary Sanitary Inspector, and detailed for the special duty of collecting evidence for prosecuting the keepers of un- registered lodging-houses.
Between that date and 31st May 454 houses were visited, on an average four times each.
The keepers of 115 houses registered, 66 did not contain sufficient occupants to come within the definition of a common lodging-house.
273 keepers were summoned for failing to register.
1.
65 failed to appear, and warrants were issued. 32 were subsequently arrested. 33 closed their houses.
240 keepers were convicted, and fines aggre. gating $1,516.75 imposed.
47 keepers were recommended for banishment. 12 were banished, the remainder having found security for good behaviour were not banished.
-LICENCES.
Jinricksla licences have been granted only to builders and repairers' shops, with a view to the elimination of middlemen or farmers of licences.
Licensees have been required to sign an undertaking that they will not charge their drawers more than 33 cents a day each in the summer, and 30 cents a day each in the winter months.
There are two drawers to each jinricksha. All licensed bearers of public chairs and drawers of jinrickshas have been medically examined as to their fitness for their occupation; about 5 per
cent. were rejected. Licensed marine store dealers have increased from 5 to 30; fines aggregating $1,000 having been imposed on the unlicensed store dealers.
On the 27th a depôt of cargo boats was formed by the Water Police, to save time in hiring stroyed, 20 restored to their owners, 6 ransomed. Dogs.-1,580 dogs were licensed, 99 de-
them.
The coolies working at Aberdeen struck this day.
There were now 20,000 coolies on strike. Six petty officers of the Navy were sworn in as special constables to do duty with the Water Police.
Men of the Hongkong Regiment were en- gaged discharging vessels.
On the 28th the Police hired 50 coolies for a local firm at $1 a day, but the firm subsequently declined to pay such large wages, fearing to to prejudice future rates.
This day the hands at Hung-hom Dooks began to be restless: two strangers, doubtless emissaries from the strikers, were, however, arrested and sentenced to three months' hard labour as rogues and vagabonds. and the Dock hande gave no more trouble.
The remaining hands at East Point Re- finery struck.
On the 1st April the Police secured 850 coolies at $1 a day for various firms.
On the 2nd over 500 colies were supplied to various firms.
Vehicles.-Private vehicles licensed.--588 vehicles for trade were licensed, 10 for private use, 17 for livery.
ARMS.
2,813 export permits under Ordinance 8 of 1895 were taken out for the export of-
Revolvers
Musketa Repeating rifles Swords Pistols Cartridges Caps.. Iron Gun Lead shots
.10,310 ....1,836
་་་་་་་
3,960
32 6,185
1,544,393 108,423 boxes
Double barrelled guns.
Carbinės
Fowling pieces Bulleta Gunpowder. Blank cartridges Fuses
Dynamite `...........agari. Iron cannons
1
..1,115 lbs. 87 320
29
.149,859 .1,052 lbs.
60
255 pieces. 800 lbs.
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