CO885-11 — Page 20

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T ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.882/11

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Proposal for Curfew.

80. One of the numerous suggestions which have been made for dealing with the hundred-and-one problems that have arisen during the last four months or so, was the introduction of the curfew. This suggestion received some support from certain influential quarters, but it was considered to be unnecessary and undesirable by the Hon. Mr. Chow Shou-son and myself. We subsequently found that we had rightly represented the views of the Chinese community, which were expressed at a meeting on the 8th July of 45 leading members of the Chinese community, including practically all the Chinese Justices of the Peace. The proposal was put to them impartially, and our own opinion was In view of the withheld until they had made their decision. importance of the subject which might again come up for con- sideration at some future date, I give below the full arguments for and against the proposal.

Arguments in favour:

(1) The measure would have a good effect on the minds of the law abiding people.

(2) It would not create any greater alarm than already existed.

(3) It would lighten the work of the police.

(4) The majority of the Chinese deserved no. special con- sideration since out of a million Chinese residents only 1,500 had volunteered for service at the time.

Arguments against:

(1) The people's minds had just become less agitated, and a curfew might revive the panic.

(2) Such measures would make the place look desolate, and might deter people from returning to the Colony. (At that time communication by sea with Canton had not yet been severed, and people were daily returning here though in small numbers.)

(3) The gaol would not hold all those who would venture out without a pass.

(4) The measure would not deter bad characters from going out unless every street and lane had a policeman. They would still lurk in dark corners of streets and lanes, as could be proved by past experience.

(5) A curfew would be regarded by the ignorant as con- firmation of the wild rumours that there had been murders and intended arson.

The result of the voting showed that nine were in favour of the proposal, and thirty-four against. Mr. Chow Shou-son and I refrained from voting. Subsequent events have justified this decision.

Strategic Points of Strikers.

a strike is 81. Recommendation: In future, whenever threatened, arrangements should be made for the members of the police and other protective organisations to be posted at the strategic points mentioned in para. 9 to prevent intimidation, &c.

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Searching for arms and undesirables.

82. Recommendations: The boarding-houses should also be carefully watched and searched for arms and undesirable persons; and the searching of arrivals by train or by boat should be made even more thorough in spite of the difficulties which, I know, The boarding-houses and the places of accompany the task. entry are where arms are most likely to be found, and once they have passed these points they would be hard to discover.

83. In this matter of searches for arms use might be made of the Street Committees referred to in para. 50, for they are more likely than the police to discover the possession of arms by strangers coming into their streets, or by strange behaviour of any inhabitants.

84. The grant of permission to loyal citizens to carry arms has obviously to be exercised with discretion, and I quite under- stand the view of the Authorities that possession of arms by those unskilled in their use may be more of a danger than a safe- guard to them. But when these men are enrolled as special constables and given the duty of arresting criminals, some of whom may possibly be desperate characters, it appears only right and logical to provide them with arms as good as those which the criminals may be expected to possess. Men given revolvers to enable them to discharge public duties, such as police reserves, can easily be put through a course of training in the use of fire- arms. These men are normally peaceful citizens who have no experience of the methods of defending themselves without arms, or of affecting arrests by mere skill of physical strength; and therefore their confidence would be enormously increased by the mere possession of a revolver, while at the same time they would be more feared by wrong-doers. Both Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse and Mr. T. H. King granted permission to carry arms whenever recommended by Mr. Chow Shou-son or me, and this concession has been much appreciated by the law-abiding Chinese. Never- theless, we consider that it has not gone far enough, and we therefore suggest that members of the police reserve might be given revolvers when on duty; and that each Street Committee might be allowed and be made responsible for, a couple of revolvers for the use of their guards. At any rate, if no revolvers can be supplied, at least a better type of truncheon might be issued. The ordinary police truncheon is not considered to be a very serviceable weapon for dealing with desperate characters. and a new type with its head loaded with lead has been suggested.

Chinese Domestic Servants.

85. Recommendation: In the past we have been too dependent In view of our upon the Chinese for our domestic service. experience of 1922 and again of this strike, it would seem advisable to try to diversify the sources of our labour supply. Servants from the North did not go on strike in any appreciable number, and it is perhaps well for the Europeans to make use of them or of Filipinos to a greater extent than they have hitherto done, as well as drawing more from regions outside Kwongtung. 1 am sorry that as a representative of the Chinese I should have to make this suggestion, but my first consideration is the highest interests of the Colony.