purpose, all the Foreign Population under Police supervision should, in fairness, be included in Hong- kong, as well as Shanghai. The Census Returns from, which that total was taken do not profess to include soldiers and seatnen. Now, the Foreign Population, including seamen and soldiers, as well is residents and others from Goa, Manila and India, has for years been more than double the number stated by Mr. JOHNSTON, and was, at the last Census, shown to be 7,699, a number which at once makes an error of more than 50 per cent in all Mr. JouNSTON'S comparative statements. (Vide Appendix A.)
5. Again, it may be true that there are 113 Europeans, and 328 Indians in the Police of Hongkong, and only 39 European Police at Shanghai, if the Consular staff, and that of the Supreme Court be omitted. It is not, however, true, as assumed by Mr. Joussrox (par. 7), that the Chinese portion of the force is useful only against Natives, which assertion is evidently intended to lead the reader to infer that the Foreign Police are useful only against Foreigners. There is no such distinction. The European and Native Force act indiscriminately, whether in the city, or whether in the outlying villages and harbor, which latter duties alone engage 200 of the force.
6. The proportion, therefore, of Hongkong Police to the total population-121,000-which it supervises is 1 to 191, and the proportion of European Police to Foreign residents is nearly 1 to 70.
7. Misstatements of the materiel and working of the Police force are, however, of little conse- quence compared with the unnoticed fact that in Shanghai there is only a small level and compact space, and a native population thereon to be watched, whose comparatively peaceful and docile character enables them to be governed with peculiar facility, especially as the Chinese authorities lend material assistance on the spot. In Hongkong, there is no such help. The resident population is far larger than that under supervision of the Anglo-American Council at Shanghai, whilst it is, moreover, continually recruited with professional criminals from the most restless and turbulent Provinces of the Chinese Empire, so that Hongkong may be said to be in a constant state of siege from without.
S. In Hongkong, moreover, the hills and valleys have to be watched and patrolled. Numerous outstations are maintained, and the Police employed on many duties which never occur at all at Shanghai, and in the absence of which, it would be essentially unnecessary to maintain so large force as is required by the special peculiarities of Hongkong, whether geographical or moral.
3
9. Nevertheless, no ignorance of special circumstances can be held to justify a wanton distor tion of statistical returns, or the incorrect statement, (par. 9), that in 1868, there were at Hongkong, 1,033 convictions of Foreigners under the head of "Murder, Manslaughter, Robbery with Violence, Assault, Larceny, Kidnapping, Unlawful Possession and Piracy," amounting to 29 per cent on the number of Foreigners.
10. The subjoined analysis of the 1,033_convictions of Foreigners in 1868, shows that the total percentage was not 29 as stated by Mr. JoUNSTON, but 13.2. It also shows that the number of convictions under the heads given by Mr. Johnston was not 1,033, but 334, of which 255 were cases of common Assault or Disturbance on board ship. (Vide Apendix B.)
11. Under Piracy, Kidnapping, and Murder, which Mr. Jousston puts forward so prominently (par. 9) as three of the classes of "serious" crime committed by Foreigners in Hongkong, not even one case occurred!
12. Finally, if both for Hongkong and Shanghai the cases of Assault, which are generally trivial, and unfit to be classed with Felonies, and if also the minor offences, such as Drunkenness, Refusal of Duty, &c., be deducted from the totals in each place, the serious crimes committed by Foreigners will be found to have been in the ratio of 1.5 per cent to the population in Shanghai in 1868, and of only 1 per cent to the population of Hongkong.
13. Nevertheless, Mr. JOHNSTON did not scruple to assert that the proportion of "serious crime" to Foreigners in Hongkong was 20 per cent, an inexcusable misrepresentation, which I respectfully trust this Government will cause to be corrected, as such inisstatement by their Secretary in no way improves the position of the Anglo-American Council at Shaughal, a body whose excellent administra tion is generally acknowledged,
Bown
Appendix A.
359
Exruact from No. 1.—Cunsus of Hoxakong, including the MILITARY and NavAL DEPARTMENTS, 1st June, 1889.
*Europeans and Americans, Resident Population, Europeans, Military,
+Europeans and Americans, Naval Establishments, Europeans and Americans, Crews of Mercantile Ship-
ping in the Harbour, Europeans and Americans, Temporary Itcsidents, Europeans and Americans, Prisoners,
Total of Europeans and Americans,
Goa, Manila, Indian, and others of Mixed Blood,
Resident Population,
Goa, Manila, Indian, and others of Mixed Blood, Crews of Mercantile Shipping in the Harbour,.. Indians, Military,
Gon, Manila, Indian, and others of Mixed Blood,
Prisoners,
Robbery with Violence.
Total of Indians, &c.,-
No. OF No. or HOUSES. BOATS.
POPULATION.
TOTAL.
Men.
Women. Boys. Girls.
1,101 523
323
581
62
982 50
2,289
763
729
720
915
915
1830
130
03
63
3,579
585
384
341 4,880
820
91
45
997
882
805
18
10
029
22
20
2,599
109
47
55 2,810
Grand Total,
7,199
F
ALFRED LISTER, Anting Registrar General.
Appendix B.
RETURN of CONVICTIONS of Foreigners for Serious and Minor Crimes and Offences, during 388, in Hongkong,
862
Burglary.
Assault with Inteof top
105.
Larceny.
Manslaughter.
Disturbance on board
ship and Assaults.
Garabling.
Kidnapping,
Unlawful Possession.
Piracy.
Drunkenness.
Nulsanees.
Neglect and Refusal of
Duty.
Extortion.
Rogues & Vagabonds.
Damaging Property.
Breach of Gaol Ordinance..
Breach of Public Vehicles
Ordinance.
false pretences.
Obixining goods under
TOTAL
3
04
250
2
Estimate of Foreign' Population, including Soldiers and Searcen, Ratio of Convictions for Serious Crimes,......
|
14
K 1,033
444 15
15%
B
59
6
-7,100
1.0 per cent
4.2 per cent.
17
31
Assaults and Disturbances on board ship, Minor Offences,
3.2
>>
0.0
B.2
"
W. M. DEANE,
Captain Superintendent of Pulice.
Ta
The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
*
Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong,
Respectfully submitted,
W. M. DEANE, Captain Superintendent of Police.