12
VI. Justice, Police and Prisons.
Serious Crime in 1930 showed an increase over 1929—5,691 cases against 5,348. There was an increase of 40 cases in house and godown breaking, 20 burglaries and 341 larcenies. Murders stand the same as for 1929—22 cases. Robberies decreased by 55 cases, 47 in Hong Kong and 8 in the New Territories.
Minor crime showed an increase—19,250 against 15,792 cases in 1929.
Arms.—There were 26 arms seizures during the year, of which 19 were charge cases and seven no-charge cases. The only seizure of note was on board the S.S. "D'Artagnan" on 15th July, when Revenue Officers seized 168 Automatic Pistols of French make and 18,000 rounds of ammunition,
Communism.—There was a marked increase in the activities of Communists during the year and there were a few occasions, notably Communist Anniversaries, when demonstrations were attempted in the more populous districts of the Colony.
In June, the Siu Yat Po newspaper was suppressed by order of Government owing to its Communistic tendencies.
In December, a Chinese Detective (L.S.C. 384 Tse On) was shot and murdered by Communists in a Restaurant at Yaumati.
Piracy. Two piracies were recorded on steamships, one being on the British S.S. "Helikon" owned by Messrs. Wo Fat Shing & Co., Hong Kong. The pirates boarded the ship as passengers and waited until the ship was about 132 miles south of Hong Kong. The attack was made during the early hours of the morning while all officers with the exception of two on watch, one on the Bridge and one in the Engine Room, were asleep. Resistance was impossible. No guards were carried on board. No shots were fired and no one was injured. The ship was taken to Bias Bay. Considerable cargo was stolen and sixteen persons, including the Compradore, were kidnapped,
The second was on the Norwegian S.S. "Hirundo". As in the first case, pirates boarded the ship as passengers. The attack was made about noon when the ship was about 130 miles south of Hong Kong. All officers were taken by surprise and were unable to offer any resistance. Guards are not carried on this ship. The pirates expected to find bullion on board; being disappointed in this respect they confined themselves to the officers and passengers; the latter being of the poorer class, the pirates' haul was comparatively small. A Chinese saloon waiter was wounded in the shoulder by a shot from a small firearm, and the 1st and 3rd Compradores were kidnapped, The ship was taken to Mirs Bay, and it is believed that the pirates went overland to Bias Bay.