THE
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY,
MARCH
··1988.
Personalities of Old Hongkong
LONDON "BOBBY" WHO CREATED HONGKONG'S POLICE FORCE
Monumental Task Accomplished In Face Of Criticism
(By T. Paul Gregory)
HERE is one of Hongkong's early settlers whose name THER
should be known to every resident of the Colony who sponsors and upholds the cause of law and order."
This is Mr. Charles May, the London "bobby" whose genius for organisation was directly responsible for the Colony's present highly efficient Police Force; for it was through his efforts that the genesis of the guardians of public safety was speedily effected from a nondescript body of constables into au organisation that is on a par with any large city in the Occident.
was dismissed from office, and left the Colony's shores as a persona non
grata.
Mr. Caldwell become Mr. May's bitter enemy, and published a "Vin- dication of the charges which had been jointly laid against him by Mr. May and the now cashlered Attorney- General. The scandal was intense, for Caldwell accused him of the same been mude
foul offences that had against him in 1857.
on
Mr. Charles May, Hongkong's first Chief of Police,
a
RADIO BROADCAST
Ettore Pellegatti From The Studio
GASTON D'AQUINO
Radio Programme Broadcast by ZBW on Frequencies of 845 k.cz. 9.52 m.e's per second.
6.0 Chinese Programme.
7.0 Closing local Stock Quotations. 7.05 London Relay-Take Your Choice.
A weekly, entertainment feature presented by William MacLurg.
Introduction The Singers with the Orchestra; 'Inspector Sharp takes up the Case by the Mellulah Brothers; No. 4 The Light-headed- League'; 'Songs I Remember-Each week a well-known artist from the stage or music-holls will come to the microphone to sing for you; The Spinner of Death-Episode Sitani's Man-trap. An adventure serial by Franklyn Kelsey, Introduc- ing Jim Travers and his friends, Terence O'Malley and Jeremiah and the sinister character, Mr. Sitani;
Yours sincerely-Orchestra.
11
7.35 London Relay Sonza of The Seasons.*
No. 3 'Autumn. Ten minutes autumn-time music with Janet Lind, Bernard Clifton; The Three Graces and The Band, Presented by Wil- Hum MacLurg.
7.45. Musical Comedy Selections. The Lilac Domino (Charles Cuvil- lier)....Frank Westekl's Orchestra, Prince of Wales' Playhouse, Lewis- ham; Anything Goes-Selection, (Cole Carroll Gibbons and the Porter). Savoy Hotel Orpheans with vocal chorus,
8.0 Local Time Signal, Weather and Announcements,
"Assistant Allairs came to such a head that,
Magistrate of Police, in 1801, the Civil Service Abuses
Sheriff, Provost Marshal, Marshal f Inquiry Committee, which had been
the Vice-Admiralty Court, Coroner, oppointed in July of the previous and Colonial Treasurer pro tem, year, mude its report. The docu-
However, Mr. May's state of health mentary evidence amassed by the rendered it imperative that he should Commission was made public
Lake rest from his Inbours, and October 1, after it had been duly
on May 22, 1879, he left the Colony considered by the Executive Council on leave for England. Owing to his of Mr. Charles May, the Superinten-As regards Mr. May, the Legisin impuired physical constitution, slight
"unanimously
agreed hopes were held out for his ultimate dent of Police, all burglaries, rob- that Mr. Caldwell had not only fail-recovery, and it was no matter of heries, assaults, nuisances, and othered to substantiate any one of his surprise that when the steamer matters connected with the duties of charges, but that he had no grounds arrived at Singapore a cable apprised the Police, instead of being reported whatever to justify him in bringing his friends in the Colony to the Chief Magistrate as heretofore, these charges against Mr. May. the fact that Mr. May had died on should in future be at once brought Moreover, the Council concluded in board ship three days after sailing of the Police, at the Central Police erred in certain matters, yet he had been burled at sea. to the notice of the Superintendent summing up that he fight have from Hongkong, and that he had (Plano). Station, near the old Market Place, rendered such valuable service to the in his History of the Laws
utates The Look of re-organising the Colony that "his removni from Police was by no means an easy one. Government and considering the material from less to the Colony, would be a great which he had to choose
Like everything else that is worthy of accomplishment, the beginnings must have been exceedingly difficult and even dis- couraging; for the Colony during the first two or three decades of its existence was so rife with lawlessness that the question of iffe and property was indeed a most momentous one.
During the years 1841 to 1843, Hongkong was more or less under a state of martial law, but at length upon the confirmation of the island's status as a Colony under the British Crown, it was felt that it was now high time that the semblance of a Police Force should be organised; for with the passing of military rule, it became exceedingly difficult to cope with the rising tide of disorder, which soon attained the proportions of a regular "crime wave."
Robberies, murderous assaults and acts of violence became so frequent and so hard to cope with that the citizens who had been sworn in as a a sort of vigilance committee were a hopeless disadvantage. At length, however, the then Governor.
at a
Sir
Henry Pottinger, rightly decided that
The
under such circumstances, the only fensible remedy would be the establishment of
Force, a Pollee and
with
object this
in
view was
of 1844 12
Ordinance No. passed, "providing for the pointment amongst
other
things, of a Superintendent of Police under the orders of the Chief Magistrate of Police."
It was with this object in view that Mr. May was invited to come out to the Colony and to undertake the tasic of creating a proper law uphold- ing body which would be capable of handling the situation.
Mr. Charles May was born in England about 1820—the date is more or less conjectural, as there is very little biographical matter available concerning his
Was
remarkable how well he accomplish-
ed
It.
It must be remembered that in
15
Force, was
those days the position of constable A Legislative Couneli, Mr. May who FTER his "white-washing" by the was not an enviable one; for taking had previously severed his connet into account the fact of the dangers tion with the Police of the average policeman's life it
wonder that any recruits were to be found at all.
Frequently, it was the wont of the authorities to impress European sea men who were incidentally doing dmo" in the gaol for various offences, to serve as constables In time of emergency.
conted by the Governor, Sir Her- cules G. R. Robinson, on Jan. 24, (881 Commissioner of Kowloon, pending to the short-lived office of "Civil
receipt of instructions from the Home Government."
The honour was but a temporary cac; for on March 30, the appoint- rent was rescinded in view of the
his death,"
and Courts of Hongkong, the Colo1y lost its oldest and at the same time one of its most valued omelals,"
8.03 Studio Ettore Pellegatti (Cello) And Lindsay A. Lafford
1. Une Larme (Dunkler); 2, Polo- Pavane Pour Une Intante defunte Norton-nulse brillante Op. 3. (Chopin); 3.
(Ravel); 4. Etude Caprice (Guller- mann); 5. Orientale (D. Popper); 6. Gavotte (D. Popper).
8.30 Mozart-Symphony in D (Ne 35).
Played by the
Orchestra conducted by Sir Hamilton Harty.
8.53 Organ Music,
LIABILITY ARGUED
$6,189 Claim Hinges On Responsibility Of Chop-Holder
the
Man
Man
Kwok Man
instructed by Mr. M. A. da Silva, ap- for the plaintiffs, and Mr. H. peared Somersel Fitzroy was instructed by Mr. C. A. S. Russ to represent the defendants.
Halic
Larghetto (S. S. Wesley)....G. D. Cunningham: La Nuit (Elert); Even- ing Song (Bairstow)....Harry Goss- Custard (Organ of Liverpool Cathe- dral)
9.07 Studio --
Gaston, D'Aquino' (Tenor) and E. O'Neil Shaw (Piano).
1. Addio
Mignon Mignon' ('Chomus)
2
Sogno Manen*
(Masseuel)....Gaston D'Aquino: 3
9.30 London Relay The News 9.50 'Dance Records. Orchestra - Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller Brooks): Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (Creamer- Layton) Max Abrams & His Rhythm Makers; Orchestra Blue
Danube Swing (Arr. Sid. Phillips). Eddie Carrell & His Swingphonic Orchestra.
Chinese constables were then prac- Ptically unheard of, and the employ- fact that the "district, of Kowloon A claim for $0.189.48. being the Plano Solo; 4. On Away Awake Be- ment of Indiana was still in the most was declared to be part and parce price of old newspapers bargained loved (Coleridge-Taylor); 0. embryonic state.
of the Colony of Hongkong" and for und sold, was brought before the Lovely Night (Landon Ronald): 0 In view of all the irksome diffi- hence such an official post as Com-Chief Justice, Sir Atholl MacGregor, Povera Pulcinella (Buzzi-Peccia)........ culties of his appointment, posterity missioner was rendered unnecessary, must admit that Mr. May did ex-
this morning by the Union Trading Guston D'Aquino. Mr. May, however, served the Company against Kwok
the ecedingly well, and the Colony, may Colony in various capacities; for in Chau (Company) and Chiu Chiu- well be proud of the lofty traditions addition to his work as Superinten- ting, munnger,
New which were Insülled into the Police¦ dent of the Colony's Police, he Chau Ka, Tung Hing Company Force by such a capable organiser. temporarily lled on more than one and Li Po-yuen, partner therein.
However, Mr. May was not with occasion, such Important posts PS The Hon. Mr. Leo D'Almada, Jar., out his critics, and his independent spirit and bluff, hearty disposition did not go well at times with the SNATCHER TO administration. This was especially carly life. It true during the time of Sir John known, however,-that-he-came-from-Bowring's governorship. Sir John,
BECANED.... a family of ulicemen; for his father,
to put it mildly, did not entertain a John May, wor Superintendent of
very high opinion of Mr. May, the
of four months' hard the "A" Division of the London reason being as he put it, "on labour and six strokes of the cane Metropolitan Police, which appoint account of his lamentable ignorance was passed on Tam Sop, 20, un- ment he had held from the forma- tion
of the Force in 1820. The first that learn
we
of Mr. Charles May is that, like his father, he belonged to the London Police, where he had served for a number of years previous to his appointment to Hongitong.
of
☆ ☆ ☆
Sentence
Mr. D'Almuda said the claim was originally against the first two de- fendants, but was subsequently amended to include the others under the Fraudulent Business. Ordinance, proprietor of the Kwok
of the Chinese written or spoken employed, by Mr, Q. A. A. Macfadyen The sole language. Indeed, in Sir John's at Kowloon Magistracy to-day for Man Chau Ka, was Chiu Kwok, and candid opinion such a deficiency was larceny of n too glaring for words, especially for from a woman in Shanghai Street tranferees of the business.
pair of gold earrings the Tung Hing Company were the a man who was entrusted with the on March 13, Superintendency of the Police.
The defence filed by Chiu Kwok The woman, aged 39, was walking was a dental that he entered into any * 4 4
when the defendant came behind her contracts with plaintiffs, and that If they were made they were MR. MAY, moreover, was an in- and snatched the earrings. He was even into without his authority, or
entered dividual who readily took sides, chased and caught.
permisalon.
WELDER BADLY BURNED
MR. MAY arrived in the Cole in and we consequently find him cus February 28, 1845 on the ship volved in one of the most monstrous Oriental. He was accompanied by series of accusations which were two ex-London "bobbies". Messrs.made by the then Attorney-General, Thomas Smithers and Hugh McGre Mr. Thomas C. Anstey, against the gor, who were to aid him in his took Registrar-General, Mr. Caldwell. A welder employed by the China
the nucleus of a force
Mr. May perhaps believed thot Light and Power Company at the the 9-General was
in the new site at Tsunwan, Chan Chiu, 25, right, at least he should have was burned
on the face and legs yesterday when a burner-tube broke displayed better judgment; for he his hands while he was at work, brought a veritable hornets' nest down upon his head. and barelylle was sent to the Kowloon Hospital escaped the fate of Mr. Anstey, who, for treatment.
inte
4
His appointment as Superintendent of Police was duly gazetied on March 18, when a Govenument Notification appeared stating that,
conse- 'quence of the arrival from England
Stock Market Affected By Europe Tension
London, Mat. 15.
CHINESE HARASS INVADERS
Soldier Held For Assault
On Chinese
10.0 London Relay Music Hall'. With The B.B.C. Variety Orches tra, conducted by Charles Shadwell.
11.0 Close Down.
an em-
RUN DOWN BY LORRY Knocked down In Pokfulam Road yesterday, Sum Kara-sang, ployee of the Dairy Farm, was taken to the Queen Mary Hospital with head injuries. The man was struck by u lorry.
DUTIABLE TOBACCO
The case for the plaintiffs was that the goods were ordered by the Kwok
Fine of $50 with the alternative of Man Chau Ka through someone au- thorised so to do. From April, 1036 six weeks' imprisonment was
In- to November, 1937. there had been fileted on Chan Siu, 38, unemployed, a series of transactions, over 20 con- for possession of dutiable tobacco at tracts in number, between plaintiffs the Western Market wharf,
old
newspapers. and defendants, for The orders were mostly given by employee of the Kwok Man Chau Ka, ness might seek to alienate it, and a man named Chan Tok, allar Chan had no limitation as to the Habilities
an
Kwok-man. Deliveries were made by delivery order and the contracts were chopped with the chop of de- fendant firm, mostly by Chan Tok.
IMPORTANCE OF CHOP
of the transferees.
The first witness culled was Mr. of
Messrs.
H. A. de B. Botelho, solicitor
D'Almada and Co., who was subpoenaed. On being asked whe-
ther he had acted for the New Kwok Continuing, Counsel said the busi-Man Chau Ka in November and De- ness chop of a Chinese firm was a cember last year, Mr. Botelho claim- matter of the greatest importance; to ed privilege but was over-ruted. He entrust it to anyone was tantamount on to say that on November 23, 1937 then answered that he had and went io granting him a power of attorney, a bill of sale in respect of the busi-
was therefore extremely Im- probable that a chop could have been ness was executed on the instructions Doihara's Troops : Sulton Mohamed of the Hongkong affixed to any contract without the of Chiu Kwok, who was present with The London Stock Exchange to-
Mule Corps, Whitfield Barracks, was knowledge and authority of the
Chiu Chlu-ting, the manager. He day, after an early general weakness,
Forced Back
to-day charged before Mr. K. M .A. owner.
had also negotiated on their behalf partially recovered, following institu-
Barnett the Kowloon Magistracy The defence further stated that
for loans with the China Provident tonal support for gilt-edged invest-
Hankow, Mar. 16. with having assaulted Yin Choy Chan Tol was only an accountant Loan and Mortgage Co. ments, lending a better tone. to the
According to latest Chinese causing him grievous bodily harm, and had no authority to sign any
EXPERT EVIDENCE remainder of the market. Austrian
contract. Evidence of significance and German bonds, however, showed military information, there has at Hebe Hill on March 2.
in this respect would be called to been very fierce fighting on the
Expert evidence in regard to the further downward trend, though
Det.-Sergeant MacPherson asked show that when an attempt was made importance of chops of Chinese firms other European bonds were steady northern sector of the Tientsin- for a weeks formal remand men- to serve Chan Tok with a subpoena was given by Mr. Ho Wing, Com- and Internationale firm.
Pukow railway front. Tentioning that the complainant was in summons at the New Kwok Man Chau pradore of the Hongkong and Shang- thousand Japanese troops at hospital with a fractured skull. It Ka, where he had been seen, it was hat Bank. Mr. Ha said that the chop stated that he had gone back to the was usually kept either by the pro- the man was out of danger.
country. Another point from which prietor or the manager, and when it The defendant was remanded for Inference could be drawn that de- was entrusted to an individual, the a week in military custody.
fendants had knowledge of the con- power of the firm went with it. A tracts was that Joans had been ob cautious man would keep his chop in tained by them from the China Pro-a safe and not lying about in open vident Loan and Mortgage Company | drawers.
Among the commodities, cotton tacked the Chinese line south of was not yet known for certain if was weaker, then firm on speculative the Chiehho River, support, while base metals were
Meanwhile, Chinese foreca pre strong owing to armament expecta- tons, though profit-taking reduced harassing the Japanese in South the gains,
Shansi, as a result of which
Japanese detachment has been forced to rotrest northward along
On the foreign exchanges, the the Tungpu railway to Linien, French frane was very erratic, though
Another 2,000 Japanese troops,
it closed firmer in the hopes of under General Dalhara, Commander governmental improvement. Wall (Btreet was · firmor, Rouler Special,
HOOMING "MARRIAGES
in-Chief of the Japanese expedition ary force in North China, are report ed to have been forced to retress from Menghalen, on the north bank of the Yellow River,
In north-west Shansi, 3,000 Janan ese troops occupied Hochu Jast Fri forthcoming wed- day and crossed the Yellow River to Sergeant take the village of Matikou on the
and wreat bank?¿
of the driver?; However,
eerty later they retreated
BIOPS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION.
The following shipa ore expected
to be in wireless communication
on security of goods from plaintiffa.
Mr. B. M. Churn, principal of the EQUAL LIABILITY.
plaintiff arm, stated that from April, Referring to the Tung Hing Com- 1938, several contracts for old news- hia with the Radio Telegraph Omer-pany and Li Po-yuen, Counsel sub. papers were entered into between Prometheus, Taiping, Zulderkerk,mitted they were equally liable be- company and defendants. Defendants Saale, Minoo Maru, Ranpura, Em cause the transfer was under a hire stood to lose about $11,000 and when be of press
Rusia, Kitano Maru, agreement. The transfer was tem- he pressed for the contracts to
porary, at least, and there was liquidated, Yaishing, Bagoland and Taiyuan..
do so, they refused to do doubt that the business was being
Mr. Tam Tung, of the China Pro- carried on by the Kwek Man Cha
vident Loan and Mortgage Co. testi- Ka. Further, the transfer was noted that from Ume to time has drm advertised, as laid
down by the made loans to defendants. Most of provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer the loans were negotiated by Chan 'told hid he was the mate
- MOTOR WHIKEL FOUND
no
arcmwille China Coops, have rich tyre, was found in Nathan, Roed tryforces by Wong Wing-luk, yesterday, and Wuttal, was taken to the Mongkoktrul polic
FENORMATIVA the hem de Mar motor car wheel...with a Good Bundae:Ordinance, the main object). Toki who'
of which was to prevent any transferay and by Chi 9. of biisiness with a Views labulty It And Cova
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Episode 1. "Into the Lion's Den"
Episode 2. "The Cobra Strikes"
Episode 3. "The Menacing Herd"
Episode 4. "The Killer's Trail”
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