From O. C. Troops, Cantor Field Fort, T. C. S. O. Hong Kong
Sir,
I am not aware of
Camp Chering Po
6 July 1899
I have the honour to forward a letter received yesterday evening from the Schaub reporting a somewhat disturbed state in this district.
1. On receipt of this letter I went to Sam Chun and interviewed the head man Cheong Chi Lap. In reply to my inquiries he told me there had been three armed robberies lately in this neighbourhood; one on 29th June about 10 p.m. in the village of Tai Sing; and two on 3rd July in Sam Chun itself between 7 and 8 p.m.
No lives were lost and no body was shot; the people in the houses robbed giving up everything to the robbers without resistance.
2. In reply to my query "why was no report made to me about these robberies?" Cheong Chi Lap replied that he was trying to get some information on the subject before reporting it. None of the robbers was recognised, and it is not known when they live nor when they come from. I warned Cheong Chi Lap to report all such disturbances to me at once in future.
I attach a copy of a notice which I am having written out in Chinese Characters and which I have ordered Cheong Chi Lap to have posted in Sam Chun and all the outlying villages. A similar notice will be sent to the Headman of Shau Tau with orders to put it in that town and outlying villages.
As regards the having fire-arms in possession, I am not aware of any orders on this subject having been issued previous to my assuming command here. I have given orders that the inhabitants of the villages in this neighbourhood who desire to keep weapons for defence against armed robbery must be recommended by four elders of their villages, who will vouch for their good character, before they will be granted a permit to have fire-arms in possession.
In reply to my inquiries Cheong Chi Lap told me that most of the shopkeepers in Sam Chun had some sort of fire-arms in their possession.
The notice which I am having posted up provides for the giving up of all these weapons except those for which a permit is granted.
5. I have directed a party of men under Lieutenant R. A. Etaki to search all junks and launches going up the river and to seize any arms or ammunition being smuggled in. I will send a report on his return of the result of this search.
6. Will you please send me a copy of the Government Notification specifying the limits of the new districts in which the Chinese law, or the laws of the colony respectively, are in force? Let me know the limits, as far as they are known, in which the authority of the O.C. Frontier Force is absolute? At present my intention is to send any offenders arrested South of the River to the authorities in Hong Kong; and to deal summarily with offenders arrested N. of the River.
I have, &c.
C. Row Crop, Capt.
Comm'ing H.K.R.