Ordinance seems deficient in regards to the powers of Detectives Employed by the Po Leung Kuk. See especially the judgment of the Police Magistrate, at p. xciv of Appendix reported to the Report. I place side by side the present rules on the subject of the Detectives and the clauses of the new Ord" on the subject:
13. Detectives tother Constabler ss. 19 & 20 of Ord
It shall be lawful for the Governor with his discretion from time to time to direct that the services of certain subordinate officers and Constables of the Police Force shall be placed at the disposal of the Society, on such terms & conditions as may be sanctioned by the Governor.
14. Detectives & Constables Employed by the Society shall act only under written instructions signed by the President or a Vice President of the Society.
20. All persons apprehended by the officers or constable, aforementioned shall without unreasonable delay be taken to a Police Station, and any woman or girl... in respect of whom there is cause to suspect that an offence has been or is being Committed may be taken to a place of safety... there to remain until proper provision can be made for the protection of such person's interests & liberty, and so that in the meantime the evidence of such person may when required be available.
It appears from marked passages in the Appendix to Report (app. xix) that the rule as to the four lending detectives has never been put in practice, the Society having always Employed & paid for its own detectives. Latterly, however, they borrowed District Watchmen to act as their Detectives. These "have under s. 18 of Ord. 13 of 1883) all the powers and authorities of a constable."
Do they retain these powers & authorities when lent to the Society?
A Detective employed by the Society, other than a District Watchman or a Police Constable, would have no such power or right to arrest any suspected person? This might, I think, be pointed out in our Ordinance.
I understand from M. Lockhart, the Registrar General (who is now in England) that the Society dealing with detectives, propose to continue their present practice of employing detectives; they will not necessarily always borrow a District Watchman or a Police Constable.
Also, I do not see that the Ordinance gives power to lend District Watchmen. These may perhaps be more useful than Police Constables.
I suggest that Ordinance should be amended.