Appendix I.
REPORTS OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE AND OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE.
The total of all cases reported to the Police was 9,562 as against 11,510 in 1907 being a decrease of 1,978 or 17.14 per cent.
In the division of these cases into Serious and Minor Offences, there appears a decrease, as compared with 1907, of 64 cases, or 1.93 per cent. in the former, and of 1,914 cases, or 23.24 per cent. in the latter.
The decrease, as compared with 1907 in Serious Offences of 64 is shown as follows:-
Decrease. Increase. Unlawful Possession, 2 Murder, 1 Larcenies, 101 Robbery, 19 Felonies not already given, Burglary, 16 Larceny from Dwelling, 56 145 Kidnapping and Protection of women and children, 5 81 Nett Decrease, 642. Table I shows the number and character of the Serious and Minor Offences reported to the Police during 1907 and 1908 and the number of persons convicted in connection with these Offences.
MURDER.
3. Fifteen murders were reported to the Police during the year as against 14 in 1907. In connection with five of these reports no arrest was made. In four cases fourteen men were arrested on suspicion but for want of sufficient evidence the charges were withdrawn.
In the remaining six cases, arrests were made as follows:-
In one case
.6 convicted.
.1 discharged.
In another case
.3 convicted.
.3 discharged.
In the last case two were convicted and one discharged, but the conviction was subsequently quashed on technical grounds.
CUTTING AND WOUNDING.
4. Two reports were made to the Police as against none in 1907.
In each case one arrest was made and a conviction obtained.
JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE.
5. On the 12th of July C.C. 343 Cheng Chau while on duty in plain clothes at Stanley shot and killed one Chan Sui while acting in self defence. On the day in question the C.C. was sent out to arrest persons found trespassing on Crown Land and cutting trees. On the Stanley road overlooking Tytan Bay he saw three men coming towards him. One was carrying a parcel. He stopped the men and examined the parcel which he found contained dynamite. He attempted to arrest the man carrying the parcel, when all three set upon him. The Constable was getting the worst of it and thought there was a danger