AnnualReport-1929 — Page 266

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combined with armed robbery. Sheung Shui District suffered from four raids by armed bands from Chinese territory. In three of these raids the above mentioned murders were com- mitted and on one occasion the raiders were driven off by the village scouts before any harm was done. In the last raid on On Lok Tsun a small police patrol came into contact with them. Shots were exchanged and two of the robbers were wounded, one fatally.

10. THE FRONTIER.

Throughout the year the police were on friendly terms with the Chinese authorities and at times received useful help from them, and from the authorities in Sha Tau Kok in particular.

Annexe D.

REPORT ON THE GUARDS 1929.

Jan. 1st. Dec. 31st.

Steamer Guards (Indian)

203

194

Steam Launches (Chinese)

6

2

Shore Guards (Indian)

254

261

Shore Guards (Chinese)

33

34

Special Lewis Gun Guards

(Indian)

44

50

.....

Guards on strength (Casual-

duty)

14

22

Guards on Casual duty (Un-

employed)

54

43

Totál

608

606

STRENGTH.

The strength on the 1st January stood at 608 and on the 31st December 606 as compared with 717 on the 1st January, 1928 and 614 on the 31st December, 1928 : —

Resignations

Dismissals

Taken on strength

Desertions

Died

87

26

102

Nil.

4

The latter includes 2 Guards killed by pirates during piracy of s.s. Deli Maru 21.9.29. and s.s. Hai Ching 8.12.29. 2 Guards died in G.C.H. 4 Guards are also presumed to have lost their lives in the foundering of S.L. Lee Cheong on or about 23.12.29. The majority of Guards who resigned returned to India on leave. The remainder are men who left to seek work as private watchmen. Throughout the year there has been