346
30
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
12. It is impossible to lay down any standard in detection below which the working of a police force can be justly condemned. Success in this respect must depend quite as much on external circumstances, such as the talent and dexterity displayed by the criminal classes, the natural features of the country, and the character of its natives, as on the ability and exertions of the police. As a remarkable illustration of this I may refer to the present deplorable state of Ireland, where numerous agrarian outrages, of the most daring character, have hitherto baffled the ablest detective officers, so much so that it was lately stated by Lord Cairns in the House of Lords that in Ireland, during the year 1880, out of 50 cases of murder and other heinous offences, including eighteen assassinations, in only one had the criminal been discovered and committed for trial. Here the dishonesty of the natives, on whom we have to depend for the detection of crime, renders it impossible to maintain an organized detective police. Indeed, if such a force did exist, I am of opinion that it would be of very little use, unless outposts could be maintained, under European supervision, at different points in the San-On District, and in Canton and Macao; which, under existing circumstances would of course be impossible.13. There is ample evidence to show that the perpetrators of most of the serious offences which have occurred in this Colony were inhabitants of Chinese territory. Many daring crimes have been evidently planned beyond our jurisdiction. And in most cases precautionary arrangements were made by the depredators to secure a safe retreat before information could reach the police.
14. From Appendix C* it will be seen that larceny by servants has decreased in a very remarkable manner since the opening of licensed gaming houses, the average number of cases reported per quarter during the years 1865, 1866, and 1867 being 32, compared with 25 during 1868, and 15 during 1869.
15. I take this opportunity of submitting a statement, Appendix D,† of the working of the different members of the force, as tested by the number of persons arrested, convicted, and discharged; which was called for some months ago by his Excellency the Governor, but in consequence of Mr. Deane's illness, remained unfinished when he left the Colony on sick leave. This return shows the number of persons apprehended and the result of these arrests. In the water police, the European constable in charge of a boat invariably gets credit for all arrests, although in most instances he receives the information from Chinese Lo-kongs. For this reason the statement cannot be relied on in the cases of Europeans, and Chinese; but it is useful to show the comparative efficiency of the Sikhs and other Indian members of the force, in the performance of the most important duty of a municipal police.
16. In drawing this comparison it must be borne in mind that as yet the Sikhs have not had the same local experience as other members of the Indian force, and little opportunity has yet occurred for weeding out the worst men, as in the case of the Bombay and Madras constables, who have been selected from the large number of men brought on at different times from India; the worst men of each batch having been discharged on the expiration of their first term of service.
17. From Appendix E‡ will be seen the punishments inflicted on the force during the past year. No similar return was submitted last year, but I believe the conduct and discipline of the force to have considerably improved.
18. The Sikhs, than whom there are no braver or more reliable men in a critical emergency, are becoming better acquainted with their work, and many have already acquired a slight colloquial knowledge of Chinese, and are making good progress in English; being regular attendants of the evening class established by his Excellency the Governor.
19. Before suggesting any improvement in our present police system, or deciding as to the class of men best qualified to perform the work, it is necessary to consider what the nature of the duty really is; a point which does not appear to have received sufficient attention from some who have advanced opinions on the subject. For the efficient performance of municipal police duty in the town of Victoria, we undoubtedly require many more Europeans than we now possess; but I fear little advantage would be derived from increasing the number unless the pay was also enhanced, as that now offered is insufficient to induce many good men to join.
20. For duty at out-stations, patrolling hill roads at night, and guarding gaols and other Government buildings, an armed police is necessary; and for these and similar duties I think it will always be found expedient to retain a large Indian element in the force.
21. I consider natives of the North of India more desirable for work of this kind than Europeans; they are equal in physical courage, much less expensive, and better able to endure the severity of this climate when night work in the hot weather is involved.
22. In the stable we have had many casualties; four of the eleven Australian horses brought from Calcutta in March, 1867, have either died or been destroyed, and one or two
Page 365
Page 366
346
30
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT:STATE
#
12. It is impossible to lay down any standard in detection below which the working of a police force can be justly condemned. Success in this respect must depend quite as much on external circumstances,-such as the talent and dexterity displayed by the criminal classes, the natural features of the country, and the character of its natives,-as on the ability and exertions of the police. As a remarkable illustration of this I may refer to the present deplorable state of Ireland, where numerous agrarian outrages, of the most daring character, have hitherto baffled the ablest detective officers, so much so that it was lately stated by Lord Cairns in the House of Lords that in Ireland, during the year 1800, ont of 50 cases of murder and other heinous offences, including eighteen assassinations, in only one had the criminal been discovered and committed for trial. Here the dishonesty of the natives, on whom we have to depend for the detection of crimé, renders it impossible to maintain an organized detective police. Indeed, if such a force did exist, I am of opinion that it would be of very little use, unless outposts could be maintained, under European supervision, at different points in the San-On District, and in Canton and Macao; which, under existing circumstances would of course be impossible.
13. There is ample evidence to show that the perpetrators of most of the serious offences which have occurred in this Colony were inhabitants of Chinese territory. Many daring crimes have been evidently planned beyond our jurisdiction. And in most cases pre- cantionary arrangements were made by the depredators to secure a safe retreat before, information could reach the police.
14. From Appendix C* it will be seen that larceny by servants has decreased in a very remarkable manner since the opening of licensed gaming houses, the average number of cases reported per quarter during the years 1865, 1866, and 1867 being 32, compared with 25 during 1808, and 15 during 1809.
15. I take this opportunity of submitting a statement, Appendix D,† of the working of the different members of the force, as tested by the number of persons arrested, convicted, and discharged; which was called for some months ago by his Excellency the Governor, but in consequence of Mr. Deane's illness, remained unfinished when he left the Colony on sick leave. This return shows the number of persons apprehended and the result of these arrests. In the water police, the European constable in charge of a boat invariably gets credit for all arrests, although in most instances be receives the information from Chinese Lo-kongs. For this reason the statement cannot be relied on in the cases of Europeans, and Chinese; but it is useful to show the comparative efficiency of the Sikhs and other Indian members of the force, in the performance of the most important duty of a municipal police.
16. In drawing this comparison it must be borne in mind that as yet the Sikhs have not had the same local experience as other members of the Indian force, and little opportunity has yet occurred for weeding out the worst men, as in the case of the Bombay and Madras constables, who have been selected from the large number of men brought on at different times from India; the worst men of cach batch having been discharged on the expiration of their first term of service.
i
}
-
:
17. From Appendix E‡ will be seen the punishments inflicted on the force during the past year. No similar return was submitted last year, but I believe the conduct and discipline of the force to have considerably improved.
20 18. The Sikhs, than whom there are no braver or more reliable men in a critical emergency, are becoming better aquainted with their work, and many have already acquired a slight colloquial knowledge of Chinese, and are making good progress in English; being regular attendants of the evening class established by his Excellency the Governor.
19. Before suggesting any improvement in our present police system, or deciding as to the class of men best qualified to perform the work, it is necessary to consider what the nature of the duty really is; a point which does not appear to have received sufficient attention from some who have advanced opinions on the subject. For the efficient performance of municipal police duty in the town of Victoria, we undoubtedly require many more Europeans than we now possess; but I fear little advantage would be derived from increasing the number unless the pay was also enhanced, as that now offered is insufficient to induce many good men to join.
1
20. For duty at out-stations, patrolling hill roads at night, and guarding gaols and other Government buildings, an armed police is necessary; and for these and similar duties I think it will always be found expedient to retain a large Indian element in the force.
21. I consider natives of the North of Iudia more desirable for work of this kind than Europeans; they are equal in physical courage, much less expensive, and better able to endure the severity of this climate when night work in the hot weather is involved.
22. In the stable we have had many casualties; four of the eleven Australian horses brought from Calcutta in March, 1867, have either died or been destroyed, and one or two
Page 365Page 366
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.