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SECTION 9A. NEW TERRITORIES, SOUTH,
76. For police purposes Tsun Wan district is included in the Kowloon area. The two N.T. South districts of Cheung Chau and Tai O remained as regards crime, comparatively unaffected by the disturbed conditions in Kwangtung.
77. There were 2 outrages in 1939 including one charge case as against Nil in 1938.
78. Other serious crime totalled 60 cases in 1939 as against 60 in 1938.
79. The main difficulty experienced at Cheung Chau and Tai O was the limitation of the fishing area, due to the fear of Japanese interference with fishing fleets outside British waters.
SECTION 10. COLONIAL WATERS.
80. Sino-Japanese hostilities and the breakdown of government in Kwangtung produced a wave of lawlessness among the seafaring people of the Kwangtung coast and there was a great increase in the number of robberies on boats in British waters.
81. In addition many reports were received of robberies on boats in Chinese waters. Japanese naval forces continued their policy of attacks on Chinese vessels, and 115 attacks of this kind were reported to the Hong Kong police. There were 61 reports of outrages on boats in British waters as compared with 23 such reports in 1938. There were 19 charge cases. These cases were distributed as follows:
Beat Robberies Murders Total Deep Bay launch beat 34 1 35 Sai Kung 14 14 Tai Po 3 1 4 Lantao 1 1 Harbour 5 2 7 Total: 57 4 6182. The disturbed condition of Deep Bay as shown by the 35 outrages which took place there forced this Department to consider seriously the question of providing a fast shallow draught motor boat to police the waters of Deep Bay with a base station somewhere near Mong Tseng point. The expenditure necessary would be considerable, and further consideration has been postponed as conditions in Deep Bay have improved for the time being.
SECTION 11. STRENGTH, CONDUCT AND HEALTH OF THE FORCE.
83. The following tables show the establishment authorized by Estimates for 1939, and the actual strength on 31st December.
Establishment Total: Strength including men on leave on 31st December Contingent Absent on long leave A European 269 272 37 B Indian 801 774 93 C Cantonese 763 808 20 D Wei Hai Wei 317 296 E Russian 40 34 2 Cantonese Sub-Inspectors 30 36 1