AnnualReport-1935 — Page 98

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21. Messrs. Lo Yuk-tong and Mok Tat-huen retired on the expiration of their ex-officio year of office as ex-Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital and Po Leung Kuk Committees respectively and were succeeded by Messrs. Lau Ping-chai and Ng Wah.

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22. The authorised strength of the Force is 140 and is composed as follows:- 5 Head District Watchmen, 6 Assistant Head District Watchmen, 26 Detectives and 103 Uniform Men. The only difference in distribution of these posts as compared with 1934 is that the number of Assistant Head District Watchmen has been raised from 5 to 6 and the number of uniform men reduced from 104 to 103. The appointment of an additional Assistant Head District Watchman has greatly facilitated the supervision of discipline in Kowloon,

23. During the year 12 members of the Force were dis- missed, one resigned, two died and two were retired on pension. Recruits were obtained to fill these vacancies.

24. Inspector K. W. Andrew was in charge of the Force throughout the year and carried out his duties in a 'most satisfactory manner. The post of Inspector' in charge of the District Watch Force is of considerable importance; he is in control, almost single-handed, of a considerable body of men, is liaison officer between the Police and the District

Watch Force, and must supervise the activities of the detective branch.

25. The work of the Force has been very satisfactory. There are many dangers inherent in any policy which aims at the breaking of records in the matter of successful prosecutions obtained during the year and no such policy has been adopted during 1935 but the fact remains that several records have been broken. A total of 1,322 convictions in cases ranging from petty larceny to murder was obtained during the year, 37% of this total being obtained by the detective branch of the Force. The pickpocket squad again did very good work exceeding by 42 the record of 139 convictions for larceny from the person which was set up in 1934. As usual a special watch was maintained for traffickers in women and children and 22 convictions were obtained. During the Jubilee Celebrations the District Watch Force was called upon to perform long hours of arduous work in assisting the Police Force and during the latter months of the year they again successfully collaborated with the Police in measures taken to combat the outbreak of armed robberies in Kowloon. It is perhaps not generally realised that in addition to their ordinary police duties the District Watch Force carry out a great deal of very useful investigation in purely civil cases, wages and family disputes etc. which are

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