(No. 114.)
1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
353
37
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, September 25, 1869. The following Memo., which has been submitted to His Excellency the Governor by the Captain Superintendent of Police, is published for general information.
(By Command)
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
MEMO.
Hong Kong, September 20, 1869.
1. In the 'London and China Express' of the 8th July last is published a communication, dated the 13th May, from Mr. A. J. Johnston, Secretary of the Anglo-American Municipal Council at Shanghai, in reply to some remarks made in the House of Lords last March reflecting on the general character of the population at Shanghai.
2. Mr. Johnston endeavours to show that statistics prove the population of Shanghai to be comparatively better conducted than that of Hong Kong. He fortifies himself by reference to my Official Report of last April, and in doing so, makes such erroneous and extraordinary statements, that to pass them by in silence, when published in a paper having extensive circulation, might create an injurious impression in the mind of the public.
3. The following are Mr. Johnston's statements in his own language-
"6. Perhaps, however, the most satisfactory argument is to be derived from official statistics, and I will therefore with your permission compare the police statistics of Shanghai with those of Hong Kong. I take Hong Kong alone, partly because its official returns are readily accessible, partly because it is situated in circumstances somewhat similar to those prevailing at Shanghai, but especially because, from the sweeping nature of the Duke of Somerset's remarks, one well-authenticated fact in opposition to them is as good as a hundred.
"7. From the Official Report of 1868, published by the Captain Superintendent of Police at Hong Kong in the 'Hong Kong Government Gazette' of the 17th April, 1869, it appears that the total strength of the police force in that Colony was 633, viz. 113 Europeans, 328 coloured, and 192 Chinese. In Shanghai, for the same period, the police force numbered 105, viz. 39 Europeans and 66 Chinese. In both places the Chinese element in the police force is useful only against crime committed by Chinese, and therefore, so far as the prevention of crime by Europeans is concerned, Hong Kong maintains 441 police against 39 in Shanghai. By the census taken in Hong Kong on the 31st December, 1867, published in the 'Hong Kong Government Gazette' of 14th March, 1868, it appears that on that day the number of foreigners of all nationalities resident in the Colony was 3,551. Hence assuming, which may fairly be done, that the number of foreigners leaving Hong Kong in 1868 about balanced the number arriving, it will appear that the police were in the proportion of about one to seven foreign residents.
"8. In Shanghai the number of foreigners at present is, exclusive of police, 4,699. Hence the foreign police force is to the foreign residents in the proportion of one to one hundred and twenty.
"9. As to crimes:-In Hong Kong during 1868 there were 1,033 convictions of foreigners under the heads of 'Murder,' 'Manslaughter,' 'Robbery with Violence,' 'Burglary,' 'Assault,' 'Larceny,' 'Kidnapping,' 'Unlawful Possession,' and 'Piracy.' This is a percentage on the whole number of foreign residents of 29 convictions for serious offences. In Shanghai for the period of 12 months, from April, 1868, to March, 1869, the number of foreigners apprehended and convicted was 565, of which 387 were simple drunkenness, 17 were 'Desertion,' 2 were 'Forgery' (of which one was an ex-employé of the Hong Kong Government), and 24 were 'Furious Riding.' Thus 135 may fairly represent the number of more or less serious crimes committed by foreigners during the twelve months indicated. Of these the worst were three cases of 'Cutting and Wounding,' and 61 cases of 'Assault.' But 135 bears to 4,699 the proportion of 2.9 to 100, or exactly one-tenth of the Hong Kong percentage of convictions to the number of residents.
"10. It is obvious from the above figures that a much smaller police force is required to keep order in Shanghai than is required for a like purpose in Hong Kong, although...`
(No. 114.)
1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
353
37
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, September 25, 1869. The following Memo., which has been submitted to His Excellency the Governor by the Captain Superintendent of Police, is published for general information.
(By Command)
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
MEIO.
Hong Kong, September 20, 1869.
1. In the 'London and China Express' of the 8th July last is published a communica- tion, dated the 13th May, from Mr. A. J. Johnston, Secretary of the Anglo-American Municipal Council at Shanghai, in reply to some remarks made in the House of Lords last March reflecting on the general character of the population at Shanghai.
2. Mr. Johnston endeavours to show that statistics prove the population of Shanghai to be comparatively better conducted than that of Hong Kong. He fortifies himself by reference to my Official Report of last April, and in doing so, makes such erroneous and extraordinary statements, that to pass them by in silence, when published in a paper having extensive circulation, might create an injurious impression in the mind of the public.
3. The following are Mr. Johnston's statements in his own language-
"6. Perhaps, however, the most satisfactory argument is to be derived from official statistics, and I will therefore with your permission compare the police statistics of Shanghai with those of Hong Kong. I tako Hong Kong alone, partly because its official returns are readily accessible, partly because it is situated in circumstances somewhat similar to those prevailing at Shanghai, but especially because, from the sweeping nature of the Duke of Somerset's remarks, one well-authenticated fact in opposition to them is as good as a hundred.
"7. From the Official Report of 1868, published by the Captain Superintendent of Police at Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Government Gazette' of the 17th April, 1869, it appears that the total strength of the police force in that Colony was 633, viz. 113 Europeans, 328 coloured, and 192 Chinese. In Shanghai, for the same period, the police force numbered 105, viz. 39 Europeans and 66 Chinese. In both places the Chinese element in the police force is useful only against crime committed by Chinese, and therefore, so far as the prevention of crime by Europeans is concerned, Hong Kong maintains 441 police against 39 in Shanghai. By the census taken in Hong Kong on the 31st December, 1867, published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette' of 14th March, 1868, it appears that on that day the number of foreigners of all nationalities resident in the Colony was 3,551. Hence assuming, which may fairly be done, that the number of foreigners leaving Hong Kong in 1868 about balanced the number arriving, it will appear that the police were in the proportion of about one to seven foreign residents.
"8. In Shanghai the number of foreigners at present is, exclusive of police, 4,699. Hence the foreign police force is to the foreigu residents in the proportion of one to one hundred and twenty.
$
*
"9. As to crimes:-In Hong Kong during 1868 there were 1,033 convictions of foreigners under the heads of Murder,' Manslaughter,' 'Robbery with Violence,' Burglary,' Assault, Larceny, Kidnapping,' 'Unlawful Possession,' and 'Piracy? This is a percentage on the whole number of foreign residents of 29 convictions for serious offences. In Shanghai for the period of 12 months, from April, 1868, to March, 1869, the number of foreigners apprehended and convicted was 565, of which 387 were simple drunkenness, 17 were 'Desertion,' 2 were 'Forgery' (of which one was an ex-employé of the Hong Kong Government), and 24 were Furious Riding. Thus 135 may fairly represent the number of more or less serious crimes committed by foreigners during the twelve months indicated. Of these the worst were three cases of 'Cutting and Wounding,' 'and 61 cases of Assault' But 135 bears to 4,699 the proportion of 2.9 to 100, or exactly
one-tenth of the Hong Kong percentage of convictions to the number of residents.
T
"10. It is obvious from the above figures that a much smaller police force is required to keep order in Shanghai than is required for a like purpose in Hong Kong, although
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