:
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, OCTOBER 15TH, 1874.
Ir is to be regretted, although in some sense, it is possibly not surprising, that the Go- VERNOR has adhered in the reply he has given to the memorial from the community, with reference to the conduct of the CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT of Police, to that which he sent to the Hon. Mr. RowerT on the same subject. It is so rarely in Hongkong that an opportunity is seized of gracefully retiring from a false position, that it would have been something out of the common, had the me- morial from the public been made the means, as it might justifiably have been made, of finally granting in deference to general opi- nion, the public enquiry which had been be fore refused. This would, however, have! been a simple and straightforward course, and would have gone far to heal the wound inflicted by the cavalier despatches which have alone been vouchsafed, and which have certainly rankled very deeply in the public unind.
The despatch would call for little more notice than above were it not for the conclu- ding paragraph which, evidently with an eye
to what will be thought upon the matter, being referred home to the Colonial-Secre- tary, states: "His Excellency feels it incum- bent upon him to state that at no time in the history of the Colony have the character and efficiency of the police stood higher." This is no doubt perfectly true, and a stronger argu- ment in favour of instituting such an enquiry as has been demanded could not be imagined. It is just because a similar public agitation to that at present existing was wade some years ago, that we have now a respectable Force. Forty of the men were got out from Home in consequence of the recommenda- tions of the Commission, and other improve- ments which they suggested were effected. By four out of five-the fifth being the then Acting Attorney-General, and consequently!
bound ex-officio to support the existing Head of Police, as far as possible---were in favour of Mr. DEANE'S removal, but in the and be was allowed to retain his post. If the Commission worked so much good in other directions, might it not be worth while to ascertain whether the suggestions with reference to the Head of Police were not, after all, well founded. At all events, the last general agitation with regard to police mat- ters was sufficiently fruitful of useful results to make the Government, one would think, not disposed to look upon representations in the memorial with disfavour, but it seems that all considerations of this kind must be Į put aside in order to attain the great object of enabling the CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT to retain his post. The object is no doubt a very desirable one in its way, but the efficient command of the Police Force and the safety of the Colony are perhaps almost equally important.
At least we may hope they will so appear to the Secretary of State, to whom the whole At- affair will now, no doubt, be referred. tempts to divert attention from the points strictly at issue will have little chanec of success in a matter lying within so small a compass. It is not as though vague general complaints were made, which could be an- swered or apparently answered by equally The plain vague or general statements, questions put are, in substance, whether the CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT was justified in keeping the whole of his reserve men in, while other Europeans were out and engaged in saving lives from shipwreck, when the -need of such aid had been reported to bim; and, secondly, whether he was justified in refusing to allow the fire bell to be rung: when he was told that a fire had broken out in Bonham Strand; and, lastly, whether his omission to perform either of these duties showed him unfit for his post. The case has at least the merit of being a comparatively easy one to decide, and it is difficult to see how the Home Government can support the Governor in steadily refusing to institute an enquiry into so gross an abuse.
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