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armed with a revolver held up and robbed passers-by. On the 7th July, 1933 at 10.45 p.m., an exchange of shots took place between a Police detective patrol and some robbers. No casual- ties were inflicted on either side. During subsequent Police in- vestigations a number of Chinese males were arrested and banish- ed. A regular Police patrol is now maintained on this road at various hours. The action taken by Police appears to have stopped this form of crime.
The "Social Problem"-During the year certain new deve- lopments, probably arising from the closing of the brothels in June 1982, have been encountered and dealt with by Police. There has been a great increase in the number of street walkers and of males soliciting for sly brothels. A large number of arrests have been made by Police. Government has now approved a policy of banishment of persons convicted of these offences.
During 1982 and 1933 a number of Dance Halls were estab- lished in different parts of the Colony. It soon became clear that this development, if unchecked, would produce very un- desirable results, and Government has approved the licensing and regulation by Police of such establishments under Ordinance No. 25 of 1933 (Miscellaneous Licences Ordinance).
During the same period a number of bogus Massage Estab- lishments were started in various parts of the city. Their activities were found to be highly undesirable and strong Police action was taken, as a result of which about fifty persons have been banished from the Colony. In most cases the proprietors of these establishments were Japanese. This action by Police has checked further development of this evil. All Massage Establish- ments have now to be licensed and supervised by Police under the provisions of Ordinance No. 25 of 1933 (Miscellaneous Licences Ordinance).
Coinage Offences-On 24th February, 1933, Police seized at No. 22 Front Row, 1st floor, Tai Hang, a complete and elaborate outfit for the forgery of Siamese Bank Notes by the Intaglio Process of copper plate engraving. Further apparatus for the same purpose was found at No. 16 Clarence Street, 3rd floor, West Point. Three Chinese males were arrested and charged. At the February Criminal Sessions, one defendant was sentenced to seven years hard labour, and the other two were discharged.
Murder On 18th April, 1933, a Chinese male attempted to assassinate Lo Wai Keung, Editor of the Tin Nam Yat Po by firing five shots at him with a revolver in Lyndhurst Terrace. Mr. Lo Wai Keung fortunately escaped with only a slight wound in the shoulder and his assailant was arrested. At the June Criminal Sessions, the assailant was sentenced to life imprison- ment with hard labour. Subsequent enquiries revealed that the attempted assassination was due to rivalry between different political parties outside the Colony.
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Building Collapse-On 3rd June, 1933, the 2nd floor balcony of No. 15 Yuk Sau Street collapsed and threw four persons to the ground below, of whom two subsequently died from their injuries. A very lengthy inquiry was held by the Coroner with a Jury and a verdict of Death by Misadventure was returned. The Jury added a recommendation for enforcing supervision by architects of work done under their instructions.
Assault on Medical Practitioner-A serious assault was made on 22nd July, 1983, by an unknown Chinese male on Dr. Ma Wai Man, at No. 186 Gloucester Road, 2nd floor. Dr. Ma had gone to the floor in response to an urgent call for medical assistance. While this appears to have been an isolated case and no motive can be assigned for the assault, it illustrates the danger to which local doctors may be liable in answering calls from unknown
persons.
Remand Home for Juvenile Offenders-This Home, for the reception of male juvenile offenders dealt with under the Juvenile Offenders Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1 of 1932), was opened on 20th November, 1935. The Home is under the general charge of the Inspector General of Police. A European officer is super- intendent of the Hoine. He has a staff of one Chinese Lance Sergeant and seven Chinese Constables. Two Probation Officers (one for Hong Kong and one for Kowloon) are attached to the Home for enquiry work. The Home is désigned and furnished to accommodate fifty boys. On 31st December, 1933, sixteen boys were under detention; but the average daily number is steadily increasing. The Home and its staff promise to supply a long-felt want and to do very useful work. By the end of the year several cases had occurred in which runaways from home had been fully traced and handed back to their parents after an absence of two or three months. Further details of the Home appear in Annexe D.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BRANCH.
3. Summary of Crime.-The total number of cases (except summonses) dealt with by the Police during 1933, was 31,289 as against 21,071 in 1932, being an increase of 10,218 or 48%. The increase is in minor offences, and is very largely accounted for under the headings of Opium, Regulations governing Hawkers and Nuisances.
There were 5,630 serious cases in 1933 as against 5,707 in 1932, a decrease of 77 or 1.3%. The chief decreases were :
Burglaries
75 cases.
House-breaking
Larceny from buildings Larcenies
Murders
Robberies
29
111
28
17
16
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