districts, where crucial classes congregate as suggested by the Attorney General. The employment of a special class of Constables is required to look after Rickshaw Coolies without lanterns, boatmen guilty of having their boats where they should not be; Chinese without passes at night, and such like irregularities - instead of the attention of the Constable on his beat being taken up with comparatively trivial matters to the prejudice of his more serious duties. With regard to the people without passes, patrols should go round at uncertain hours and clear the street. The evidence shows that the Regulations are a perfect farce in the hands of the ordinary policeman on beat duty (pages 117 + 118) and the consequence is that the number of Chinese lying about the street in every direction, either asleep or pretending to do so, adds very much, as is stated elsewhere, to the difficulty of apprehending criminals and run-away persons at night.
The Police have always been instructed to exercise moderation and discretion with reference to the working of the Pass Ordinance. Before this recommendation can be carried out, the Government will have to curtail the hours to which theatres are allowed to be kept open, or to extend the time of freedom from carrying passes, as the theatres are situated in the criminal districts. The Sanitary Board...
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