- 16
The Arms Embargo was lifted on the 19th April.
Communism.-Communists were less active during the year than in 1928. There were no demonstrations but there was one murder which was the work of communists.
Labour Associations.-No Labour Guilds or Unions were proscribed during the year.
Piracy. One piracy and one attempted piracy were recorded on steamships, the piracy being on the Japanese S.S. Deli Maru in September. Three Indian guards were shot and 4 passengers were kidnapped. Officers and guards were overpowered and were not able to put up any resistance. Of the 4 kidnapped persons 2 have been released.
The attempted piracy on the S.S. Hai Ching, in December, was frustrated by the action of the officers and guards on the ship. The pirates set fire to the ship. The 2nd officer was killed, and the 1st officer was wounded, 1 Indian guard was killed and 1 wounded, 9 passengers were known to have been killed by bullet wounds and 23 of the crew and passengers were wounded.
Three of the pirates were arrested and charged with piracy and murder. 3 others were detained for banishment. It is believed that none of the pirates, who numbered about 14, escaped; 5 or 6 were killed by the defenders and others jumped overboard.
There was a considerable decrease of piracies on junks during the year in waters adjoining the Colony. Piracy in the Canton River Delta also showed a decrease.
Gaols. The total number of persons committed to Victoria Gaol was 5,779 as compared with 5,756 in 1928. Of these 1,117 were committed for criminal offences against 1,117 in 1928. Of committals for non-criminal offences there were 220 more for hawking without a licence, and 23 less for unlawfully cutting trees, than in 1928.
The daily average of prisoners confined in the Gaols was 1,075 the average for 1928 being 1,071 and the highest previous average being 1,116 in 1925. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter was 0.100. The average percentage for the last ten years was 0.123. Owing, however, to the large floating population, which is constantly moving between the Colony and Chinese Territory, the percentage of crime to population does not convey an accurate idea of the comparative criminality of the residents of the Colony. The Victoria Gaol has accommodation for 700 prisoners including patients in Hospital. The Branch Prison at Laichikok has accommodation for 475 prisoners.
The prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 0.46 as compared with 0.49 in 1928 and 0.52 in 1927.