# IDENTIFICATION BY FINGER IMPRESSIONS.
24. 158 males and one female were identified as having previous convictions against them. This number is 26 less than during the year 1907. 66 identifications were those of criminals who had returned from banishment: 19 were on record as having paid fines in lieu of going to gaol.
# CONDUCT
25. The conduct of the European contingent (average strength 126) was very good. The total number of reports against them was 37 as against 56 in 1907.
There were 6 reports for being drunk or under the influence of drink as against 16 in 1907; 2 for sleeping on duty as against one, 1 for disorderly conduct and 8 for neglect of duty.
The conduct of the Indian contingent (average strength 388) was on the whole good. There were 401 reports as against 465 for the preceding year. For drunkenness there were 38 as against 61, for disorderly conduct 30, as against 23, for neglect of duty 33 as against 52, for absence from duty 38 as against 51, for gossiping and idling on duty 77 as against 91 and for sleeping on duty 24 as against 40. 178 men had no report. Fourteen Indian Constables were convicted by the Police Magistrate (10 dismissed from the Force):- 1 for obtaining money by false pretences, 1 for allowing a prisoner to escape, 3 for giving false testimony, 2 for disorderly conduct, 4 for assault, 1 for receiving a bribe, and 1 for larceny.
The behaviour of the Chinese contingent (average strength 328) was fair. There were altogether 1,044 reports, as against 1,086 in 1907. There were two reports for drunkenness as against 5, 112 for sleeping on duty as against 104, 17 for disorderly conduct as against 11, and 374 for minor offences as against 356. One Sergeant Interpreter was convicted by the Police Magistrate for larceny and 11 Constables (9 dismissed) for the following offences:- 1 for allowing a prisoner to escape, 3 for assault, 2 for robbery, 2 for larceny, 1 for absence from Station and duty, and 2 for misconduct.
96 men of this contingent were not reported during the year.
The Seamen, Coxswains, Engineers and Stokers (average strength 114) had 215 reports as compared with 228 for last year. For drunkenness there was no report (same as last year), 106 for absence from Station and late for duty as against 102 in the previous year.
Three seamen were convicted by the Police Magistrate, one for assault and two for larceny.
45 had no report recorded against them.
His Excellency the Governor was pleased to highly commend the Police for services rendered by them during the typhoon of the 27th July, the boycott riots of the 1st and 2nd November, and on several other occasions during the year.
# REWARDS
26. One Inspector was granted a medal for long and meritorious service, one Inspector and one European Sergeant were commended by His Excellency the Governor and granted medals for services in the Sha Tin murder case and the robbery at Tai Long Bay. One European Sergeant was granted a reward for plucky arrest of an armed burglar after receiving severe injuries.
One Indian Sergeant was granted a reward for zeal and intelligence displayed in a case of larceny.
One Chinese Sergeant was granted a medal for good work done in connection with an assault case, one Chinese Sergeant was granted a reward for zeal and activity shown in recovering stolen property and six Chinese Constables were granted rewards for plucky conduct, zeal and activity shown in the discharge of their duties.
# STRIKE
27. All the ricksha coolies went on strike on the 6th January in consequence of a notice issued by ricksha owners raising the fee charged by them per diem.
Matters appeared threatening in the morning and Inspectors Gourlay and Collett in the Eastern and Western Districts had hard work to keep order. The Police in the Central District were confined to Barracks to meet any emergency.
The ricksha owners and some representatives of the coolies were sent for by the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police and taken by him to the Registrar General's Office, where he, with the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, the Hon. Registrar General and the District ...