- K 15.
cases they dispersed at once on the approach of the Police. The measures taken by the Government and by certain Chinese charitable institutions very soon led to a reduction in the price of rice and a complete cessation of this form of crime.
35. On 27th November five armed robbers held up a money changer's shop in Des Voeux Road West at 2 p.m. Their attempts to escape were first challenged by I.P.C. B82 Khair Din, who was on point duty in the vicinity. During the exchange of shots, two civilians were shot by stray rounds. The robbers then made off in a motor car and succeeded in reaching the western outskirts of the City where they were tracked down by the Police in a tea house. One man was arrested there. The others, while escaping, shot Chinese Constable 605 in the stomach on the staircase. A Chinese detective was wounded in the arm and a European detective, Sergeant L. S. 113 Clark, who was fired at at point-blank range by the robbers, fortunately escaped with a slight wound in the leg. The robbers escaped to the hillside where two more were caught after they had been wounded by the Police who followed them up.
The Chinese Constable and the two civilians all died of their wounds. The three murderers were sentenced to death at the Supreme Court and duly hanged.
36. On November 29th the Police Accountant who had been in the Government Service for 31 years absconded taking with him certain Government Funds. He was, however, captured and sentenced to 12 months Hard Labour.
37. On December 15th four convicts succeeded in breaking out of Victoria Gaol after one of their number had succeeded in cutting away the lock of his cell door and releasing the other three. In breaking out they murdered European Warder Speed and an Indian Warder Hernam Singh and wounded another Indian Warder. Two of them were arrested, one on the 16th December and the other later. The first convict was duly hanged and the second is under sentence of death.
38. At the close of the year the handsome new Police Building forming part of the Central Police Buildings was completed and occupied. The building includes Offices, Barracks, a large Canteen, Stores, Armoury, Gymnasium, Recreation Rooms, and a Garage.
ESTABLISHMENT.
39. It is with deep regret that I have to record the deaths of no less than six European Police Officers during the year:-
Detective Inspector A. Terrett who was sent on a special mission on the East River was accidentally drowned in the East River on the 5th June,
Inspector Lamont, Inspector in-charge of the New (North) for many years, died rather suddenly on the [?], of gastro-enteritis.
P.C. 127 A. E. Clarke died in England of wounds received on active service.