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52. The number of gambling cases was 478 as compared with 217 in 1938. Here again the influx of refugees is responsible for a large increase in this offence, and some gambling schools have sprung up where the stakes are heavy, and police find considerable difficulty in obtaining information, and carrying out successful raids.
SECTION 8. KOWLOON.
53. Kowloon received a very large number of refugees causing serious overcrowding in Chinese tenements, also an increase in street sleepers, and a great increase in the number of illegal shacks and sheds in all available vacant spaces.
54. Serious crimes in 1939 totalled 5,469 cases as against 5,083 in 1938.
There were 79 outrages as against 46 in 1938. Firearms were used in 20 cases, and one robbery led to the gun battle between police and robbers described in Section 5 paragraph 20c.
There were 2,825 charge cases. There were 4,379 larcenies as against 4,216 in 1938. There were 977 other serious crimes against 813 in 1938. There were 16,993 minor offences as compared with 24,248 in 1938. As in Hong Kong, the number of unlicensed hawkers is such that available police staff is inadequate. The number of prosecutions for hawking offences was 10,336 as compared with 17,167 in 1938.
55. Maintenance of discipline at the interned Chinese soldiers' camp at Ma Tau Chung added to the strain on police staff during the year, and considerable trouble was also caused by labour disputes at the Chung Hwa Book Company's depot at Ma Tau Chung.
SECTION 9. NEW TERRITORIES, NORTH.
56. During the whole year, conditions in the New Territories, North, were disturbed owing to the presence of Japanese troops on the frontier or in the vicinity. There was a large influx of refugees with an ebb and flow depending on Japanese operations. A large number of firearms found their way into the possession of Chinese robbers and bandits, and many robberies were committed in British territory by bandit gangs from over the border, as well as by robbers who came in as refugees. A large fluctuating number of refugees, totalling 7,294 on 31st December, have been accommodated in five official and five unofficial refugee camps maintained by the medical authorities and relief associations in New Territories, North. Provision of these camps was of great value to police by helping to reduce crime.
57. The two main incidents in connexion with Japanese operations were the Lo Wu bombing on February 21st and the Japanese occupation of the frontier in August.
LO WU BOMBING INCIDENT.
58. On February 21st, at 09.35 a.m., a flight of nine Japanese monoplanes was observed by police stationed at Lo Wu blockhouse approaching Shum Chun from the North-West. They broke formation over Shum Chun and started to bomb the market, refugee camp, and Chinese Maritime Customs buildings and wireless station, killing and wounding many Chinese, and causing a stampede of refugees across the frontier.
59. Three of the planes flew over the frontier into British territory and began to bomb the railway and machine-gun the fleeing crowds of refugees. Six bombs fell in the vicinity of the Lo Wu railhead; one of these scored a direct hit on the Indian police cookhouse, killing P.C.B750, Surta Singh, and completely demolishing the building. Twelve persons were killed and four injured in British territory.
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52. The number of gambling cases was 478 as compared with 217 in 1938. Here again the influx of refugees is responsible for a large increase in this offence, and some gambling schools have sprung up where the stakes are heavy, and police find considerable difficulty in obtaining information, and carrying out successful raids.
SECTION 8. KOWLOON.
53. Kowloon received a very large number of refugees causing serious overcrowding in Chinese tenements, also an increase in street sleepers, and a great increase in the number of illegal shacks and sheds in all available vacant spaces.
54. Serious crimes in 1939 totalled 5,469 cases as against 5,083 in 1938.
There were 79 outrages as against 46 in 1938.)
Firearms were used in 20 cases, and one robbery lead to the gun battle between police and robbers described in Section 5 paragraph 20 c.
There were 2,825
There were 4,379 larcenies as against 4,216 in 1938. charge cases. There were 977 other serious crimes against $13 in 1938. There were 16,993 minor offences as compared with 24,248 in 1938. As in Hong Kong the number of unlicensed hawkers is such that available police staff is inadequate. The number of prosecutions for hawking offences was 10,336 as compared with 17,167 in 1938.
55. Maintenance of discipline at the interned Chinese soldiers' camp at Ma Tau Chung added to the strain on police staff during the year, and considerable trouble was also caused by labour disputes at the Chung Hwa Book Company's depot at Ma Tau Chung.
SECTION 9. NEW TERRITORIES, NORTH.
56. During the whole year conditions in the New Territories, North, were disturbed owing to the presence of Japanese troops on the frontier or in the vicinity. There was a large influx of refugees with an ebb and flow depending on Japanese operations. A large number of firearms found their way into the possession of Chinese robbers and bandits, and many robberies were committed in British territory by bandit gangs from over the border, as well as by robbers who came in as refugees. A large fluctuating number of refugees, totalling 7,294 on 31st December, have been accommodated in five official and five unofficial refugee camps maintained by the medical authorities and relief associations in New Territories, North. Provision of these camps was of great value to police by helping to reduce crime.
57. The two main incidents in connexion with Japanese operations were the Lo Wu bombing on February 21st and the Japanese occupation of the frontier in August.
Lo WU BOMBING INCIDENT.
58. On February 21st, at 09.35 a.m., a flight of nine Japanese monoplanes was observed by police stationed at Lo Wu blockhouse approaching Shum Chun from the North-West. They broke formation over Shum Chun and started to bomb the market, refugee camp and Chinese Maritime Customs buildings and wireless station, killing and wounding many Chinese, and causing a stampede of refugees across the frontier.
59. Three of the planes flew over the frontier into British territory and began to bomb the railway and machine gun the fleeing crowds of refugees. Six bombs fell in the vicinity of the Lo Wu railhead; one of these scored a direct hit on the Indian police cookhouse, killing P.C.B750, Surta Singh, and completely demolishing the building. Twelve persons were killed and four injured in British
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