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and its president Hung Ham banished. The hands of the Government have now been strengthened in dealing with these matters by the passing of the Societies Ordinance 1911 by which all Chinese Clubs and Societies are required to register or claim special exemption from the Registrar General.
Towards the end of the year the influx of more bad characters from the Kwong Tung Province, owing to the Revolution, and the excessive jubilation of the Chinese lower classes over the successes of the republican troops, led to several outbreaks of “mafficking”, resulting in several cases in assaults on the police.
The most serious outbreak was an attack by a mob on an English police officer who had arrested an offender, and the wrecking of a Chinese shop in which the officer took refuge. On the recommendation of the Registrar General the shop owner was awarded $300 compensation.
The possibility of the trouble spreading led to the proclamation of the Peace Preservation Ordinance, with its severe penalties. The police force was temporarily strengthened and the District Watchmen Committee took energetic measures—by the engagement of lecturers and otherwise—to prevent further outbreaks. The measures taken have been entirely successful: although peculiar and distorted views of "independence" ("Tsz Yau"), bred by the Revolution and interpreted to his own liking by every coolie, will have a permanent effect on the traditional submission to regulation which has hitherto simplified the duties of officials.
Seven appeals against the execution of banishment warrants were received and investigated, and in several other cases enquiries were made at the gaol into the statements of prisoners under sentence of banishment who protested their innocence. A slight alteration in the procedure in cases of banishment was initiated during the year. It is now necessary for the Registrar General to interview the people whose banishment is under consideration before the issue of the warrant. The value of this innovation is doubtful in a majority of the cases summonses to appear are neglected; and in all, the summons acts as a warning—resulting often in a voluntary absence for a short period from the Colony with no penalty for return.
The case of the alleged kidnapping of the son of a Canton official to Hongkong was reported, but the boy could not be found.
In another case four children were kidnapped from a village near Canton and held to ransom in Hongkong. The parents paid several thousand dollars ransom: but no complaint or report was made in time for any action to be taken in the Colony.
The figures given on page 1 of the Report relating to the number of persons reported to the Po Leung Kuk as missing are not the best indication of the prevalence of kidnapping. A number of adults may have left their homes voluntarily, and a safer
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and its president Hung Ham banished. The hands of the Govern- ment have now been strengthened in dealing with these matters by the passing of the Societies Ordinance 1911 by which all Chinese Clubs and Societies are required to register or claim special exemption from the Registrar General.
Towards the end of the year the influx of more bad characters from the Kwong Tung Province, owing to the Revolution, and the excessive jubilation of the Chinese lower classes over the successes of the republican troops, led to several outbreaks of "
“mafficking”, resulting in several cases in assaults on the police.
The most serious outbreak was an attack by a mob on an English police officer who had arrested an offender, and the wreck- ing of a Chinese shop in which the officer took refuge. On the recommendation of the Registrar General the shop owner was awarded $300 compensation.
The possibility of the trouble spreading led to the proclamation of the Peace Preservation Ordinance, with its severe penalties. The police force was temporarily strengthened and the District Watchmen Committee took energetic measures-by the engagement of lecturers and otherwise--to prevent further outbreaks. The mea- sures taken have been entirely successful: although peculiar and distorted views of "independence" ("Tsz Yau"), bred by the Revolution and interpreted to his own liking by every coolie, will have a permanent effect on the traditional submission to regulation which has hitherto simplified the duties of officials.
Seven appeals against the execution of banishment warrants were received and investigated, and in several other cases enquiries were made at the gaol into the statements of prisoners under sentence of banishment who protested their innocence. A slight alteration in the procedure in cases of banishment was initiated during the year. It is now necessary for the Registrar General to interview the people whose banishment is under consideration before the issue of the warrant. The value of this innovation is doubtful in a majority of the cases summonses to appear are neglected; and in all, the summons acts as a warning-resulting often in a voluntary absence for a short period from the Colony with no penalty for return.
:
The case of the alleged kidnapping of the son of a Canton official to Hongkong was reported, but the boy could not be found.
In another case four children were kidnapped from a village near Canton and held to ransom in Hongkong. The parents paid several thousand dollars ransom: but no complaint or report was made in time for any action to be taken in the Colony.
The figures given on page 1 of the Report relating to the number of persons reported to the Po Leung Kuk as missing are not the best indication of the prevalence of kidnapping. A number of adults may have left their homes voluntarily, and a safer
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