and those who witnessed it numbered more than 100,000. Still, not one arrest was made by the Police for misbehaviour or any offence on the part of either the processionists or spectators, nor was any outbreak of crime heard of either immediately before or after the procession. This, I think, speaks volumes for the orderly manner in which such processions are conducted, and for the quiet behaviour of the Chinese, and indicates that processions are not always, at any rate, accompanied by an increase in the number of criminals.
The Capt. Supt. states, a second "procession was allowed, for which there is no precedent in the Colony." The application to hold this procession was made by the Committee of the Man Mo Temple, a body consisting of very respectable traders in the Colony. In view of the manner in which the procession just mentioned above was conducted and of the character of the applicants, I recommended that the application be granted. My recommendation was approved by the Governor, who issued a permit, signed by His Excellency, the Surveyor General, and the Magistrate. The processionists, who, Mr. Deane states, exclaimed "I've have the Registrar General's permit," were therefore wrong in their exclamation.
Matters did not go so smoothly with the second procession as with the first. One or two men were arrested for assaulting the Police, and were very properly punished. But, with all due deference to the opinion of the Capt. Supt., I do not think there is anything to show that there was the slightest approach to a riot. The Committee in charge named the section of those who resisted the Police; and, if my memory serves me aright, they expressed their regret to me for the unfortunate occurrence and left a complaint that no notice was taken of their objection to a shed erected in the heart of the European town. All permits have been referred to the Surveyor.
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