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These robberies have had a serious impact on a certain class of residents, and have been the subject of my particular attention for some time past, and measures have been taken by the occasional appointment of a number of Constables from the Chinese Force, to do duty in those parts of the City most frequented by thieves, and it was satisfactory to observe that the street robberies had become less frequent; there appears, however, of late, to have been an increase in this type of crime, with a grave offence committed in the open day in the most daring and determined manner.
The cause may be accounted for, to some extent, in the great influx of Chinese from Canton daily by the Steamers, their fares having been recently reduced from $1 to 25 cents, enabling many to pay a visit to Hong Kong, I believe with the single object of robbery - since the reduction of fares, the number of passengers has increased four-fold on average.
I have therefore to request that His Excellency be pleased to authorise the employment of twelve additional Constables from the latter part of the current year, to be borne on the 3rd class of the Chinese Force, which will not, if sanctioned, exceed the Estimate for the present year, in order that that number may be available for employment as detectives on the particular service in question.
It is not the intention that these men be formed into a distinct body or employed exclusively as a detective force.