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II. THE POLICE.
8. The Police Force of the Colony is under the control of the Commissioner of Police who is assisted by one Deputy Commissioner and ten Superintendents. The force consists of four Contingents, European, Indian, and two Chinese, viz., Cantonese and Weihaiwei. The strength of the different Contingents is as follows:-
Europeans Indians Chinese (Cantonese) Chinese (Weihaiwei) 269 803 783 289In addition the Police Department controls the Anti-Piracy Guards, a force consisting of thirty-nine Russians and twenty-seven Indian Guards including three Sergeants together with four European Sergeants and one hundred and twenty-eight Weihaiwei Chinese Constables, who are included in Police Strength. The Anti-Piracy Guards are employed and paid for by the Shipping Companies for service in the China Seas.
9. Further, the department supervises 580 Indian and Chinese Watchmen who are engaged by the Police Department and paid by private individuals for protection of private property. In addition there are 424 Indian and 7 Japanese Private Watchmen Registered at the Guards Offices.
10. The waters of the Colony are policed by a fleet of ten steam launches and five motor boats which employ a staff of two hundred and fifty-five Chinese under European officers.
11. There were 12,434 serious cases of crime in 1937, as against 9,038 in 1936, an increase of 3,396 or 37%. There was an increase of 124 cases in burglary, 86 in house and godown breaking, 1 in intimidation and extortion, 3 in kidnap-ping, 2,925 in larceny, 174 in larceny in dwelling, 62 in Larceny on ships and wharves, 6 in manslaughter, 2 in murder attempted, 48 in obtaining by false pretence, 108 in receiving, 41 in robbery and 27 in other serious offences. There was a decrease of 12 cases in arms, 30 in serious assault, 4 in assault with intent to rob, 48 in coinage offences, 106 in deportation, 8 in embezzlement, 2 in murder and 1 under the Protection of Women & Girls Ordinance.
There were 43,288 minor cases in 1937 as against 37,549 in 1936, an increase of 5,739 or 15%.
III.—PRISONS.
12. There were four prisons during 1937, but only two prisons are now in existence in the Colony. Hong Kong Prison at Stanley is the general prison for males, opened in January 1937. This prison is built on the separate system. It contains