- K 32
Accidents, Fatal (Non Traffic).
Total 5. Three deaths were due to accidents on the railway and 2 to drowning. One of the latter was the accidental drowning of Signalman C. E. Scarlett, 13th Infantry, in a stream near Sheung Shui.
4.-FIRE.
There were 3 fires in 1927, compared with 11 in 1926. Only one of the three fires was of a serious nature, i.e. the total destruction of the Fu Lung Beancurd Factory at Tai Kiu, Un Long, involving a loss of $4,000. With regard to Hill Fires these were considerably less than in previous years.
5. CRIME.
Serious offences committed in the N.T. (N) during 1927 numbered 23 compared with 26 in 1926. There were 3 murders and 14 robberies on shore and 5 robberies and 1 piracy afloat.
Of the 17 Land Crimes, 8 were committed in the first Quarter compared with only 2 in the last Quarter of the year. On the 5th August an encounter between police and robbers occurred at Tsung Un Ha, on the Ta Ku Ling border, resulting in the wounding of 3 robbers, one of whom died after escaping to C.T., and the wounding of P.C.B. 140. It is noteworthy that since this affair no further border raids have occurred.
6.-FRONTIER INCIDENTS.
The situation across the border, as elsewhere in C.T., has developed into one of chronic unrest, and there are no present indications of any change for the better. Fortunately however no serious frontier outrages occurred during the year.
Annexe D.
Guards.
STRENGTH.
The average strength for the year was 725 (Ships Guards 317, Shore Guards 408) as compared with 702 in 1926 (Ships Guards 250, Shore Guards 452). Ships Guards are employed in anti-piracy protection duties. Shore Guards are employed as watchmen throughout the Colony.