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GANG ROBBERIES,
5. Seventeen Gang Robberies were reported to the Police during the year as against 50 in 1913.
In 11 cases, no arrest was made, and in the remaining 6 cases arrests were made. There were 3 cases in which convictions were obtained (9 persons of whom 6 were convicted and 3 discharged). In 3 cases there was no conviction (9 persons).
STREET AND HIGHWAY ROBBERIES,
6. Sixteen Street and Highway Robberies were reported to the Police during the year as against 23 in 1913.
In 8 cases, no arrest was made; in the remaining 8 cases arrests were made. There were 4 cases in which convictions were obtained (6 persons of whom 4 were convicted and 2 discharged). In 4 cases there was no conviction (5 persons).
ROBBERIES ON BOATS AND JUNKS.
7. Seven cases were reported to the Police during the year as against 19 in 1913.
In 5 cases, no arrest was made; in the remaining 2 cases arrests were made. There was one case in which conviction was obtained (1 person) but in the other case, there was no conviction (1 person).
PIRACY.
8. The S.S. Tai On, a river steamer of 438 tons trading between Hongkong and Kong Mun, owned by the Kwong On Steamship Co., left Hongkong at 7 p.m. on April 27th, 1914. At 10.10 p.m. when off Ki O in Chinese waters pirates who had boarded the ship in Hongkong as passengers attempted to take possession of the ship. The European Officers and guards with great courage resisted the pirates, who after some time set fire to the ship, which was carrying a company of 433 passengers and crew. The ship was burned out but 180 persons were rescued. With the assistance of the Chinese and Macao Police twenty-three pirates were arrested. Seventeen of these were executed by the Chinese Authorities.
The Norwegian steamer Childar of 1,500 tons chartered by the Chino Siam Co., No. 5 Queen's Road West, and trading between Hongkong and coast ports, left Hongkong at noon on March 15th, 1914. About 6 p.m. when about twelve miles South East of Mendoza Island, about sixty pirates who had boarded the ship as passengers overpowered the officers and took possession of the ship. They ransacked the ship and then left in small boats which put off from the shore. With the assistance of the Macao and Chinese Police fifteen pirates were arrested. Of these nine have been executed by the Chinese Authorities, one died in gaol and trial of others pending.
On August 28th, 1914, an Ordinance entitled the Piracy Prevention Ordinance was passed under which the owners of river