and gladly accepted the idea that these watchmen should be under the controls of the Registrar General.
Hence Section XI - XV were inserted in Ordinance No. 7 of 1866. That Ordinance came into operation on 1st January 1867, and within a very short time from that date, a large meeting of Chinese Merchants and shopkeepers was held to consider the best method of carrying out the scheme.
The result was a petition to the Government that certain Chinese, whose names were given, should be appointed Chief Watchmen of Districts No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6/7. At the same time they handed in the names of 40 men whom they wished appointed Watchmen in the respective Districts.
Of the Chief Watchmen, five out of the six still hold their posts. The sixth died, and his successor was appointed last year on the recommendation of the Shopkeepers in the District (Daipingshan) where he was to work.
Unfortunately, no record was kept of the doings of the Watchmen until 27th August, 1867. But from that date to the 27th February 1868, they appear to have been prosecutors in 53 cases, some of which were of a very serious nature. From February to December in that year,