12
vi
vii
255
MEMO.
5. For example, in my report for 1876, I show that the increase over 1875, irrespective of one
In reading over my evidence before the Police Committee I observe that, with reference to the dditional case of murder, is to be found in the two items of Highway Robbery and Larcenies; whilst
number of men employed on night duties, I have made no mention of the circumstances that haere is a decrease in the other six items. rendered it expedient to maintain a larger proportion of men on day duty, and consequently a lesse one on night duty than obtains in England.
2. (a.) A great number of offences, such as pocket-picking, snatching of ear-rings, and some tim since (1872) the knocking down of Europeans for the sake of robbery took place between sundow
and 9 F.M.
"(8) The increase in serious crime is caused by 11 more cases of Highway Robbery, and by
121 more cases of Larceny occurring than in 1875. "two were false, and in eight cases the property stolen was so small as to average under Of the reports of Highway Robbery, "the value of $4 in each case. On one occasion only was property worth more than $25 "stolen."
6. There has been a steady increase in cases of Simple Larceny, and it is owing to this principally,
(b.) Any person walking through the streets of the Chinese town during the day time cannot famight be said entirely, that the apparent increase of "serious crime" exists. But the census of 1876
to be struck with the number of men loitering about, without any ostensible means of livelihood.
(c.) So many of the Chinese are utter strangers to the manners and customs of a city controlle somewhat on the model of western countries, that a larger force of Police is required during the day time to enforce municipal laws.
hows an increase of about 15,000, or 12 per cent, in the population of the Colony since 1874; which in itself sufficient to account for what appears unsatisfactory.
7. The increase in minor offences is especially delusive, when the annual totals are alone considered, or in addition to the increase of population which materially affects this branch of the subject, as these- fences contained some that are often committed through ignorance rather than malice, the following
items have first appeared on the charge sheets since 1871
(a) Mendicants, 1876, 286 cases,
(d) In England the Police in the day time have the material assistance of the passengers in the streets should any offence, especially of a serious nature, be committed. In Hongkong, from the instinctive dread of any act bringing the agent in contact with the law, inculcated by the harshne of Chinese Officials and Chinese Law in their native places, the Chinese passengers in our stresides will, with the rarest exceptions, render no assistance even in such a brutal case as that of a wome having her ear-rings snatched from her ears.
(e.) The heat of the summer months and great discomfort resulting therefrom when a man walking, renders it most undesirable for the sake of the men's health that the duties should be pre longed for more than six hours at a speй.
(f) In discussing the length of time that the Police should do duty during the twenty-fou hours, the following points have to be borne in mind:-
(1.) Several have extra duties owing to the Fire Brigade being under Government control (2.) Their attendance at the Magistracy with their prisoners often involves their spendia
many hours there.
(3.) The Police drills and school are additional.
(4.) There is no reserve for extra duties, such as guards at the Supreme Court durin
sessions, &c.
Hongkong, 23rd October, 1878.
Mr. Deane to the Colonial Office.
W. M. DEANE, Captain Superintendent of Pulice,
other offences created by new Ordinances.
(b) Street Cries, 1876, 280 cases,
8. The following explains the increase over 1875 :---
"(4) The increase in Miscellaneous Offences is caused by the number of persons arrested as
"Mendicants and as Unlicensed Hawkers."
"(9) Considering the returns for the year as a whole, they may fairly be deemed satisfactory, "especially when the development of the City, and of certain Villages, is considered, as "well as the increased facilities that have been afforded for the influx of strangers into "the Colony."
9. With reference to the general question of crime in Hongkong, I think that in my report for
have pointed out where the weak point lies.
“(7) A Commission is now considering the question of punishments, &c., in the Gaol, and "it is to be hoped that their enquiries may result in the recommendation of some system "that may render that establishment more disagreeable to ex-convicts, than it appears to "have been from the experience of past years. The fact that the number of prisoners "sentenced to imprisonment at the Magistracy shows a proportion of two old offenders "to three persons arrested on the first known charge demonstrates the desirability of
making imprisonment more deterrent.”
"?
If, as recommended by the Commission, the separate system can be introduced, I trust that my ture reports will show a marked decrease of crime, especially by old offenders.
10. In conclusion, I would beg to refer to the Annual Police Report for 1869, which contains a omparative abstract of crime during six months in 1865 and 1869; as this shows the enormous mount of crime with which I had to deal, when first I had the honour to assume command of the olice, in October, 1866.
I have, &c.,
18, SION HILL, BATH, 26th November, 1877.
BRAMSTON, ESQ.,
Under Secretary of State for the Colouies,
W. M. DEANE, Cuptain Superintendent of Police, Hongkong.
SIR.-In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit certain explanatio concerning the apparent increase of crime in Hongkong during the past ten years.
2. An arbitrary arrangement has existed for several years of dividing criminal reports under t two headings of serious crimes and minor offences.
CRIME.
Return of Cases of Serious Crime from 1867 to 1878.
1818.
1887. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875, | 1876, 1877. up to 91 AVERAGE,
under,
4
2
5
3
4
છે
hery with Violence from the Person,
150
47
490
62
47
46
119
76
B
274
261
150
?
4
2
8
8
2
53
B8
57
30
30
$5
21
13
8 14
6
360 215 191
101 289
817
18
17
51 84 34
38
ult with intent to commit Felony,... apping,
arful Possession,
ones not already given,
3. It must be premised that the Police Returns are composed of all offences appearing on charge sheets, and also of all reports of offences in which no arrests have been made, whilst tiers.. Magistrates' returns do not include this latter class, but they do include summonses for various offens and especially against the sanitary laws. Hence there is an apparent discrepancy in these retumis. 4. The consideration alone of the annual totals of "Serious Crimes," naturally leads to inference that such crimes have slightly increased; it is therefore only by comparing the nine varia items comprised under this heading, that it will be seen that what really constitutes serious crime b diminished.
gray,
August,
5
ལཾ
ཨྠ མཱ ཡ ཨྠ མྦྷསྶ ཨྰཿ ཨྠ
ཿ 1
3.
+
5
11
8.8
14
15
13
24 21
27
46.1
60 107
90
70 BB
130,0
3
1
1
2,7
103
1
232
846
ཿནྡྷནཱིཙྪ
51
63
55
73 37
57.7
7
5
5
9
3
11.5
203
251
289 309 289
237.8
16 13
32 20
30.1
808.7
719 805 647 670 790
608
802 9381,059 1,437 1,348
967 |1,857 |1,434 1,394 1,816 1,105 1,995 1,485 |1,966
* One cage also entered under Firsey.
Totals,...
1,458 1,249