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receive some instructions shortly and possibly some assistance from England relative to it; but in the mean while the matter is so urgent that it cannot be delayed.
I regret to say that in spite of all the arrangements and precautions that have hitherto been made and taken, such is the expertness and daring of the lower classes of the already immense Chinese population, thefts and robberies are of frequent occurrence on this Island.
The employment of Chinese Sober Men would seem at first sight to offer a ready remedy for this state of affairs, but it has been tried and found to be almost altogether futile, and I am now satisfied that the formation of a regular Police Corps, to be composed of Europeans and perhaps Malays, will be in the end indispensably requisite for the safety and well-being of this Colony.
Our System of punishment is extremely lenient when compared with that of the Government of China, and it has operated strongly against every measure that has hitherto been adopted to repress crimes of the nature to which this Despatch immediately refers. In addition to enforcing the plan of registry combined with mutual responsibility and security amongst all Chinese residing in the Colony (to which I advert in my Minute), I think it will be necessary to increase the powers of the Magistrates, and to authorise them to proceed with greater severity against all offenders.