Appendix J.
REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE YEAR 1930.
A.-NORTHERN DISTRICT.
I.--STAFF.
Mr. J. A. Fraser went on leave on 15th March, 1930, and his place was taken by Mr. E. I. Wynne-Jones, who was in charge for the remainder of the year.
The system of combined control of Northern and Southern Districts was discontinued as from 18th July, 1930.
II.--MAGISTRACY.
Table A shows the number of cases heard by the District Officer sitting as Police Magistrate and as Judge of the Small Debts Court.
The number of Police cases heard increased from 477 in 1929 to 629 in 1930. This is the highest total recorded.
The increase was mostly due to Traffic and Tobacco cases, 61 as against 20 in 1929 of the former and 236 as against 203 in 1929 of the latter.
Most of the Tobacco cases were committed by women of the poorer class, obviously employed by smuggling syndicates in Chinese Territory. 24 women were arrested and convicted; only 6 paid their fine and 18 went to Gaol in lieu thereof. The women were engaged to carry Tobacco into the Territory to evade the new taxes.
Opium cases were 27 as against 17 in 1929. Most of these cases occurred in the first half year and involved large quantities of raw opium thus accounting for the increase of fines inflicted, as shown in the Table.
Of arms cases there were 6 as against 1 in 1929. Five were only minor cases tried summarily, and the offenders fined. But in one case a man who brought a revolver into his house for improper purposes was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
Liquor cases increased from 17 in 1929 to 34 in 1930. Among these cases 2 distilleries were summoned for breaking stillery Regulations and fined $500 each.
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