344
* Appendices not printed.
28
SIR,
(No. 68.)
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Victoria, Hong Kong, March 30, 1870.
I HAVE the honour to submit the Crime Return called for in C.S.O. No. 609 of 1st December, 1860.
2. I also enclose the annual Report of this department, with Appendices,* for the year ending 31st December, 1869, and a comparative statement of offences reported to have been committed during the six months ending 31st December, 1865, and the six months ending 31st December, 1869; which was called for by his Excellency the Governor. From the latter it will be seen that not only have serious offences decreased 51.0 per cent. and minor offences 45.6 during these four years, but the working of the police as tested by the percentages of persons convicted and discharged has greatly improved.
3. During the present year the telegraph line has been commenced, the Gap and West Point circuits are already finished, and before many days Captain Shaw expects to have the Shan-ki-wan line complete.
...
4. The scheme which I proposed for the classification of the Chinese contingent came into force on the 1st instant. Besides resulting in a considerable saving to Government, the prospect of promotion, which did not before exist, will, I think, improve the working of the men.
5. Since the beginning of the year, I have increased the duty of men at out-stations from six to eight hours daily. During the Chinese New Year the men in Victoria cheerfully performed eight hours work, and for fourteen days two-thirds of the whole force was out from 10 P.M. until 6 A.M.; but the regular duty of men at head-quarters, who have drill, school, police court, fire brigade inspections, &c., to attend, cannot be permanently increased.
I have, &c., (Signed)
C. VANDELLUR CREAGH,
The Honourable J. Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary,
&c.
&c.
&c.
Acting Captain Superintendent.
Population of Hong Kong and British Kowloon, exclusive of shipping and boat population—98,535.†
Strength of the police of all grades on 31st December, exclusive of water police, guards over gaols and other public buildings, men employed on special duty—385.
Proportion of police to population,—one policeman to 255 persons.‡
The Crime Returns for 1869 compare very favourably with those for last and previous years.
From the subjoined statement it will be seen that serious offences have decreased 22.6 per cent., minor offences 18.4 per cent., and all crimes 19.3 per cent.; as compared with similar returns for 1868.
Year Serious Offences Decrease Minor Offences Decrease All Offences Decrease 1868 1,249 4,456 5,705 1869 967 292 3,634 822 4,601 1,104Only three of the five cases of murder reported during the year were committed in this Colony. In one the prisoners were brought here for trial, the crime having occurred on board the British barque 'Nile,' off Borneo.
Of the three cases which occurred in this Colony the most atrocious were those of Mr Holworthy, Assistant Superintendent Military Stores Department, and of Police Sergeant Mahoney.
1. Mr. Holworthy was attacked when walking at mid-day on one of the hill-roads on 24th January; the object appears to have been robbery solely. Within two weeks information was received that the stolen property—a watch and chain—was in a Chinese district about 40 miles from Hong Kong. In May the names of the four men said to have been implicated in the murder were obtained and in July and August two of them were arrested, and the watch recovered in Chinese territory, by the co-operation of Mandarin Ch'ien T'ang.
† This is probably much less than the real number of inhabitants, but the figures have been taken from the last census return.
‡ This proportion of police to the population is smaller than that which prevails in some Indian towns, where the duties are by no means so difficult.
344
* Appendices not printed.
28
SIR,
(No. 68.)
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Victoria, Hong Kong, March 30, 1870. I HAVE the honour to submit the Crime Return called for in C.S.O. No. 609 of 1st December, 1860.
2. I also enclose the annual Report of this department, with Appendices,* for the year ending 31st December, 1869, and a comparative statement of offences reported to have been committed during the six mouths ending 31st December, 1865, and the six months ending 31st December, 1869; which was called for by his Excellency the Governor. From the latter it will be seen that not only have serious offences decreased 51:0 per cent. and minor offences 45-6 during these four years, but the working of the police as tested by the per centages of persons convicted and discharged has greatly improved.
3. During the present year the telegraph line has been commenced, the Gap and West Point circuits are already finished, and before many days Captain Shaw expects to have the Shan'-ki-wan line complete.
...
4. The scheme which I proposed for the classification of the Chinese contingent came into force on the 1st instant. Besides resulting in a considerable saving to Government, the pros pect of promotion, which did not before exist, will, I think, improve the working of the mou. 5. Since the beginning of the year, I have increased the duty of men at out-stations from six to eight hours daily. During the Chinese New Year the men in Victoria cheerfully performed eight hours work, and for fourteen days two-thirds of the whole force was out from 10 P.M. until 6 A.M.; but the regular duty of men at head-quarters, who have drill,' school, police court, fire brigade inspections, &c., to attend, cannot be permanently increased.
I have, &c., (Signed)
.
C. VANDELLUR CREAGH,
The Honourable J. Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary,
&c.
&c.
&c.
Acting Captain Superintendent.
Population of Hong Kong and British Kowloon, exclusivo of shipping and boat popula, tion-98,535.†
Strength of the police of all grades on 31st December, exclusive of water police, guards. over gaols and other public buildings, men employed on special duty-385.
Proportion of police to population,-one policeman to 255 persons.‡
The Crime Returns for 1809 compare very favourably with those for last and previous
years.
From the subjoined statement it will be seen that serious offences have decreased 22·6 per cent., minor offences 18-4 per cent., and all crimes 19-3 per cent.; as compared with similar returns for 1868.
Tear.
1868 1869
Serious OffencOS. Decrease.
Minor Offences.
Decrease.
All Offences.
Docressa.
1,249 967
292
4,456 3,634
822
.705 4,601
1,104
Only three of the five cases of murder reported during the year were committed in this Colony. In one the prisoners were brought here for trial, the crime having occurred ‘od board the British barque 'Nile,' off Borneo.
Of the three cases which occurred in this Colony the most atrocious were those of Mr Holworthy, Assistant Superintendent Military Stores Department, and of Police Sergeant Mahoney.
1. Mr. Holworthy was attacked when walking at mid-day on one of the hill-roads ou 24th January; the object appears to have been robbery solely. Within two weeks infor mation was received that the stolen property-a watch and chain-was in a Chinese district about 40 miles from Hong Kong. In May the names of the four men said to have been implicated in the murder were obtained and in July and August two of them were arrested, and the watch recovered in Chinese territory, by the co-operation of Mandarin Chiên Táng.
† This is probably much less than the real number of inhabitants, but the figuros have boon taken from the last consus roturn.
• This proportion of police to the population is smaller than that which prevails in some Indian towns, who'j the duties are by no means so difficult.
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