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No. 34.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Report from the Captain Superintendent of l'olice for the Year 1873, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 16th February, 1874.
No. 18.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
Victoria, Hongkong, 24th January, 1874.
SIB,-In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Annual Police Report and Returns of Crime for the year 1873.
2. There is a marked diminution in the amount of Crime generally, and fewer cases have escaped detection than in the previous year. The decrease in serious Crimes is 5.73 per cent and in minor Offences 31.17 per cent.
3. The most important feature in these Returns is that only one case of l'iracy has been re- ported. The helinsman of one of the piratical Junks engaged in this affair was recognized, convicted and executed. It would, however, probably be imprudent for European sailing vessels to rely on this apparent inmunity from attack, and to sail unarmed, until it is ascertained what will be the future pursuits of the men now connected with the Coolie Barracoons of a neighbouring Colony when they are thrown out of the employ in March next. Information has already reached me that one gang of these men is being formned close to our Kowloong boundary for the purposes of depredation.
4. In the Spring of 1873, Government decided to repress, as far as possible, abuses in relation to Chinese Emigration, and an Ordinance was passed constituting it (among other matters) an offence to decoy persons from the Colony for the purpose of Emigration. There has consequently been a large increase in the number of cases of Kidnapping reported; but the fact that so many as two fifths of the persons accused were discharged, shows that a large proportion of these reports were false. 5. The severity with which Street Gamblers have been punished has had the effect of causing a diminution in this class of Offence; and it would appear that wealthier Gamblers prefer the security of private Clube, or to cross over to Chinese Kowloong rather than risk attending any secret Gambling House in this Colony.
6. Since the construction of a Guard House at Hung Ham and of a Station at Yau-Ma-Ti, crime in British Kowloong has greatly diminished. But as there is reason to suppose that several Chinese frequent the latter village as a convenient place from which to smuggle Opium into China, and us these Smugglers are a dangerous class of people, I think it would be advisable to direct the Inspector in charge of the Station to board and examine Junks as is done at other outlying villages,
7. I find that boats to the number of 1086 are used solely as residences by Chinese. These boats are unlicensed, and are in every way a source of trouble to the Police. Not only are they convenient receptacles for stolen goods and places of refuge for bad characters, but they are the means of propagating and spreading disease.
8. It appears to me highly desirable to entirely prohibit the Chinese from using boats solely as residences, but if this is considered too extreme a measure, I would desire to suggest that they should be numbered and their occupants registered. The number of these boats is reported to be as follows:-
Sháu-ki-wan,
35 used as residences and fish lans.
•
( 390 used solely as residences.
Aberdeen,
Ap-Li-Cháu,
Yau-Ma-Ti,
168 "" 115 11 141 19
*1
11
"1
"1
Causeway Bay,... Stanley,
171 19 66 "
19
11
Total,..
1,086
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