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proposal. The sports ground provides two football grounds, a hockey ground, grass and hard tennis courts and basketball courts. It will prove an inestimable benefit to the Force generally.
VISITS.
9. On February 17th, His Excellency Sir Archibald Kerr Clark Kerr, K.C.M.G., British Ambassador to China, accompanied by Lady Clark Kerr arrived in the Colony en route to Chungking to take up his duties. His Excellency left for Shanghai on the 19th February on board H.M.S. "Falmouth".
10. Coincident with the visit of the British Ambassador, His Excellency Signor Guiliano Cora, Italian Ambassador to China, arrived on February 17th for a brief holiday in the Colony.
11. On March 24th His Excellency the Governor of Macao arrived in the Colony to return a courtesy call made on him the previous year by H.E. the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong. His Excellency was the guest of honour at a number of official and private functions during a stay of four days.
SPECIAL EVENTS.
12. Departure of H.E. the General Officer Commanding. On the 10th of December, H.E. Major-General A. W. Bartholomew, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., General Officer Commanding British Troops in China, left the Colony on relinquishing his command. A large gathering of Government and Consular officials and prominent local residents assembled at Queen's Pier to bid him farewell. Special police arrangements were made for these functions and no untoward incidents occurred.
13. Smallpox epidemic.-A serious epidemic of smallpox which broke out towards the end of 1937 continued during the first seven months of 1938. The total number of cases notified between January 1st and the end of July was 2,290 of which 1,915 proved fatal. An intensive vaccination campaign was instituted, all incoming ships being met by medical officers and police for examination and vaccination of passengers where necessary. Police co-operated with the medical authorities in this task wherever possible.
14. Extortion case. At the September Criminal Sessions, four police officers, Lance Sergeant A62 C. H. Telfer; Lance Sergt. C292 Leung Chi; Police Constable C693 Mak Kwong Iu; and Police Constable C696 San Kui, were charged before the Chief Justice on two counts of attempting to extort money from the proprietors of two mah-jong schools in Temple Street, Yaumati, on the 9th and 11th May 1938. The jury returned unanimous verdicts against all of the accused on both counts and Telfer was sentenced to two years with hard labour on each count, Lance Sergt. Leung Chi to 18 months with hard labour on each count, and the two constables to twelve months with hard labour on each count, the sentences in each case to run concurrently. All of them were dismissed from the Force.
15. Transfer of the Special Branch to new offices.-On May 1st the Special Branch of the C.I.D. was transferred to new offices in the Chung Tin Building, Des Voeux Road Central. The rapid expansion of this branch in recent years had rendered the old offices at headquarters totally inadequate for its needs, and in addition it was considered advisable in the interests of public convenience to have the passport and registration offices located in the centre of the city. On June 2nd the Special Branch took over complete control of passport work formerly done in the Colonial Secretariat. The old offices were reconverted to married quarters.
16. Inspection by H.E. the Governor.-H. E. Sir Geoffry Northcote, K.C.M.G., inspected the Hong Kong Police Force and presented medals at Police Headquarters on Monday, February 7th and again on Friday, June 3rd, 1938.