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Murder of Compradore to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire.—On June 17th occurred the most sensational tragedy of the year. It was the work of a madman. A Chinese, CHAN FOOK, nephew of Mr. Woo Hay Tong, shipping compradore of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, walked into the Compradore's Department, and engaged Mr. Woo Pak Luk in heated argument. Suddenly he drew an automatic pistol and shot and killed Mr. Woo Pak Luk on the spot. He then turned the weapon on Mr. Woo Hay Tong, wounding him. This wound eventually proved fatal. The madman then dashed from these premises to the Japanese Consulate where he injured two Japanese clerks by pistol shots. They eventually recovered. He then shot himself through the heart. Enquiries showed CHAN FOOK had been brooding over a supposed family grievance and his mind had become unhinged.
Opium Smuggling Affray.—On August 28th, a Chinese police detective (P.C. C404 Leung Hoi Shing) attempted to smuggle some opium from a river steamer. He was challenged on leaving the wharf by a Chinese Revenue Officer. The detective drew his revolver and a short shooting duel ensued in which the detective and an Indian Police Sergeant were wounded, though not seriously.
Agitation against Japanese goods.—A fracas occurred in Yau-ma-tei district on September 10th, which appeared to herald anti-Japanese activity. A gang of hooligans set upon a hawker whom they accused of selling Japanese goods. They then proceeded to certain Chinese shops, and on the same excuse, damaged an amount of goods. Police were quickly on the scene and effected several arrests. This ended the matter. Enquiries proved that the incident arose from rivalry between certain hawkers, and not from any concerted movement by local inhabitants.
Piracy of S.S. Helikon.—This, the only piracy on a British ship during the year, occurred on October 14th about 80 miles South of Gap Rock when on a voyage from Hong Kong to Saigon. The pirates succeeded in eluding the police search before the vessel left Hong Kong. The ship carried no guards or means of defence. The pirates belonged to the Bias Bay neighbourhood. Details are given in paragraph 3.
Murder at Victoria Gap on February 18th, 1932.—This case is noteworthy in that successful Police investigations ably led by C.D.I. Reynolds brought to justice a desperate gang of murderers. On February 8th, the same gang had committed a brutal murder in Kowloon, but the case was a mystery until the enquiries in the Victoria Gap murder proved that the same gang was responsible for both crimes. Three men were sentenced to death and the fourth was sentenced to imprisonment for life on the charge of sending a letter demanding money with menaces. At the conclusion of the case the Judge commended the work of C.D.I. Reynolds and described the case as one of the most complicated and intricate within his experience. These were the first convictions in the Colony for murder since the year 1929.
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Murder of Compradore to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire.—On June 17th occurred the most senational tragedy of the year. was the work of a madman. A Chinese, CHAN FOOK, nephew of Mr. Woo Hay Tong, shipping compradore of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, walked into the Compradore's Department, and engaged Mr. Woo Pak Luk in heated argument. Suddenly he drew an automatic pistol and shot and killed Mr. Woo Pak Luk on the spot. He then turned the weapon on Mr. Woo Hay Tong, wounding him. This wound eventually proved fatal. The mad- man then dashed from these premises to the Japanese Consulate where he injured two Japanese clerks by pistol shots. They eventually recovered. He then shot himself through the heart. Enquiries showed CHAN FOOK had been brooding over a sup- posed family grievance and his mind had become unhinged.
Opium Smuggling Affray.-On August 28th, a Chinese police detective (P. C.
C. C404
C404 Leung Hoi Shing) attempted to smuggle some opium from a river steamer. He was challenged on leaving the wharf by a Chinese Revenue Officer. The detec- tive drew his revolver and a short shooting duel ensued in which the detective and an Indian Police Sergeant were wounded, though not seriously.
Agitation against Japanese goods.—A fracas occurred in Yau- mati district on September 10th, which appeared to herald anti- Japanese activity. A gang of hooligans set upon a hawker whom they accused of selling Japanese goods. They then proceeded to certain Chinese shops, and on the same excuse, damaged an amount of goods. Police were quickly on the scene and effected several arrests. This ended the matter. Enquiries proved that the incident arose from rivalry between certain hawkers, and no: from any concerted movement by local inhabitants.
Piracy of S.S. Helikon-This, the only piracy on a British ship during the year, occurred on October 14th about 80 miles South of Gap Rock when on a voyage from Hong Kong to Saigon. The pirates succeeded in eluding the police search before the vessel left Hong Kong. The ship carried no guards or means of defence. The pirates belonged to the Bias Bay neighbourhood. Details are given in paragraph 3.
Murder at Victoria Gap on February 18th, 1932.-This case is noteworthy in that successful Police investigatious ably led by C.D.I. Reynolds brought to justice a desperate gang of murderers. On February 8th, the same gang had committed a brutal murder in Kowloon, but the case was a mystery until the enquiries in the Victoria Gap murder proved that the same gang was responsible for both crimes. Three men were sentenced to death and the fourth was sentenced to imprisonment for life on the charge of sending a letter demanding money with menaces. At the con- clusion of the case the Judge commended the work of C.D.I. Reynolds and described the case as one of the most complicated and intricate within his experience. These were the first con- victions in the Colony for murder since the year 1929.
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