April 11, 1903
was absolutely trivial. The same report states that thirty-four gang robberies were committed in 1902, and that in twenty-four cases no arrest was made, and similarly out | of eighteen cases of street and highway robbery in only six instances were arrests made: Fourteen cases of robberies ou boats and junks were made during the year, and in connection with nine of these 28 persons were arrested, while in five cases no arrests were made. From this it would appear that the Water Police were more vigilant than the land force. However that may be, it is only too evident that there is something sadly wanting in our Police administration, and more especially in the detective department, Burglaries are obviously on the increase, and the utter failure of the Police to get on the track of the perpetrators is not only alarming and disquieting to peaceful citizens, but it affords such encouragement to the thieves that crime is likely to develop into a most serious epidemic. It is many years since such a wave of erinic passed over the Colony.
On the last occasion when a tidal wave of crime visited Hongkong, about 1878, during the administration of Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY, armed raids were perpetrated in such public localities as Wing lok Street, Seymour Terrace, and the docks at Hung- ham. The influx of bad characters was due partly to the reduction of fares on the river steamboats to ten cents during a strenuous competition, and partly to the fame of the "Merciful Maul's" administration. Under his rale flogging had been practically abolished as a punishment, the régime of the Gaol made less severe, the Light and Pass Ordinance suspended, and the Chinese generally given to understand that all precautions adopted for the control of an alien and disorderly population, then con- tinually migrating, were abolished as odious race distinctions at the instance of His Excellency the Governor. The better class of Chinese for the most part looked askance on these innovations of the peppery little autocrat, doubting the wisdom of conces sions that so clearly lent encouragement to evil-doers, though they accepted, without much effusion, the concessions which with considerable theatrical effect were tendered them by the Head of the Executive. The Police, however, were then put on their mettle, owing to the outcry that followed the raids and robberies that had astonished and alarmed the community. At that time the Froe possessed some good detectives, amongst others the ubiquitous QUINCEY, who usually managed to get on the trail of the criminals. There is now, unfortunately, no QUINCEY in the Police Force, and it is to be feared that the Detective Department is very weak. If we might be permitted to judge by results we should unhesitatingly assert that it is extremely weak. The question is: What is to be done? Is the present sta e of things to continue, or are the detective officers to receive proper encouragement and assistance in playing their part in the repression of crime. Or are the detectives incompetent or unreliable? Chinese detectives have to be used, and by the very nature of their occupation enormous power and great opportunities for making inoney are closely and indefatigably watched. The question arises: Is our Detective Force properly mauned, properly organised, and efficiently worked? On this subject we may have more to say later on.
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(Daily Press, 8th April ) We had occasion the other day to comment adversely on the shortcomings of the Detec- tive Department of the Police in the arrest of criminals and the disovery of stolen
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT-
property. We propose to-day to deal with | disappearance of "wanted" indivi another branch of the same subject, not may at any moment endeavou less important and not less unsatisfactory their claim to be inccessful emisstries When the Chinese were invited to settle in their Government, and a new but reord this Colony on the occasion of its first disappearance from the Colony will b occupation by the British Government they results. We are not writing were guaranteed full protection in their spirit. We are well aware thị persons and properties, and on the strength to which the tea shops and news of this guarantee they flocked into Hong-currency must be heavily discou kong and under the aegis of the British flag there is no smoke without fire, is prosecuted trade and industries that have least certain that the Cantonese spy largely aided to make the prosperity of the ways among us watching for an opportun port. During the sixty years of British for working mischief. It has been the prid occupation the Chinese have grown to value and boast of Great Britain that her soil and appreciate the security to life and provides a safe refuge for the political 'exilé perty, the freedom of movement, and the other lands, the man who for con facilities for trade and commerce which are sake has been compelled to seek an afforded under British rule and its just and beneath the Union Jack, and no excep equal laws. It is the duty and the interest must be made against the Chinese of the local Government to see that this of reform in government. If Chinese guarantee remains unchallenged and un-criminals take refuge on these shores, it is impaired, that the same absolute security open to the Chinese Government to apply to life and property, the same freedom to for their rendition, and this lias never been trade is continued to the Chinese frequent-refused when a case has been proved against ing the Colony as were afforded in the the person applied for. But when political time of Sir HENRY PORTINGER, and other assassination is threatened or committed administrators onwards. If, at any time, in the territory of a friendly State it is high through lack of firmuess OP want of time the Government of such State took thoroughness in any of the administrative measures to meet and defeat the machin departments this guarantee is impaired it tions of the Chinese officials or their myt- cannot fail to have a bad effect on the midons. To do so successfully, however minds of the Chinese population and will and detect and prevent murders like that of cause a loss of coufidence in the Govern- the Chinese schoolmaster in Gage Street, ment not easily to be restored.
very much better and more effective Detec tive service than now exists in the Colony E must be organized.
道
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THE GAGE STREET MURDER.
(Daily Press, 9th April)-
It is much to be feared that, in conse- quence of the slackening of the reius in the Police department, such a crisis is gradually being developed, though the complaints 80' fur are subdued and pathetic rather than sonorous and clamor- ous. But from
we can gather Since our leader in yesterday's issue was there can be no doubt that a feeling pained, we learn that the alleged murderer of uneasiness, if not of positive alarm, pre- of YEUNG KU. WAN, the schoolmaster in vails among a section of the Chinese Gage Street, has been arrested, and was population at the present time. Both in the taken before the Police Magistrate on Tues focal and in the Canton papers rumours are day, and charged with the crime. He was rife of outrages here on Chinese of known remanded until the 15th instant, and win Reform proclivities, which if not absolutely undergo his trial for the deed. If it be provel known to be true are ben trovato. Oue of against him, he will of course in due time these stories is to the effect that an old man, expiate his crime on the gallows at the reported to be HUNG, a leader of the Victoria Gaol. It is satisfactory at least Kwangsi rebels, was recently assassinated that an arrest has been made at last, though in a house at Saiyingpoon (of course un-
not until two years and a quarter after ther known to the Police), and his body smuggled perpetration of the murder. Better late to Canton. The alleged assassins are said than never, however, and we must congra to have been handsomely rewarded for their tulate the polic
ou having at length work. One of the Hongkong native papers through information recaived, accomplished *** asserts that the Kwangtung Goverument an arrest. Whether the right bird has been maintain a staff of spies in this Colony, for caged remains to be seen, but we will hope the purpose of finding out and reporting that no mistake has been made in the iden any Chinese supposed to be of progressive tity of the man. The crime was one of an ideas or advocates of reform. It is also exceptionally dastar lly nature; the victim believed by many members of the Chinese being a perfectly peaceful and unoffending community that the Kwangtung Govern-person, who, driven to take up his residence ment lavo a list of upwards of bere by persecution in his native province, hundred Chinese of the influential and was attempting quietly to make i enlightened class in this Colony marked by training the young idea to shoo down as persons to be dealt with when the actual criminal has been opportunity offers. Such opportunities it will be matter of congratulation occur when persons labelled as Reformers reason of the fact that the arrest visit Canton, or any of their family or
as a lesson and a warning to other friends place themselves in the clutches or tools of the Chinese Governmer of the inandarins. That there is some help to persuade them that the Briti good reason for apprehension may well has a long arm and memory, even ́ be inferred from the fate of the un- its administrators are offen (very slow fortunate Chinese schoolmaster who was move and extremely difficult to conving brutally murdered in his house in Gage If only we can persuade the Chinese i Street on the 10th January, 1901, a crime justice is not to be hoodwinked in this which has never yet been punished, the Colony, malgré the secret efforts of Chinese. Police utterly failing to track the authors in the pay of the Viceroy of the To down or to discover their personality. Kwang, something su
g substantial will have i According to Chinese accounts, there is been affected towards putting a stop to the always, every day, a chance of the repeti-terrorising of peaceful Chinese tion of that tragody, and the next victim may not improbably Le a person of greater ill tinction. The wei-yuens who are led, offer of substantial rewards, to pla
one
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H.E the Governor has proclaime be a port or place at which infectious or con- tagious disease prevails,