There have been very few complaints against them by the Police for derelictions or laxity of duty.
In the morning, the Chief Watchmen attend at the Registrar General's Office and report occurrences of the past twenty-four hours. They also make a daily report at the Office of the Captain Superintendent of Police, so as to preserve a unity of action with the latter force.
The greater proportion of the pay of these men is collected from the Chinese Community, which is supplemented by a donation of $1400 a Quarter from the Government.
It has been asserted that these men do not turn up crimes which have been committed. I can only say that I cannot recollect a single instance of such conduct. In an admittedly adverse report, Mr. Rice has been able to mention only one case of stealing pepper from the Chinese Wing, Wong, which was restored to the Wong, the Police knowing nothing of the offence until after the restoration of the pepper. An investigation into the action of the Watchmen took place, and the result showed that one of the coolies in the Wong, who was suspected of conniving at the robbery, had recovered the stolen...
Page 120
Page 121