1887-1903
13
271
for the murder of one of the two men. The nephew of the elder mentioned was pardoned, and the sentences on the elder and the third prisoner were commuted to imprisonment for life and ten years with hard labour respectively. These convictions had a wholesome effect upon the population, especially as two of the culprits belonged to the local gentry.
It was found that robberies by night by gangs of armed Chinese, principally from Chinese territory, were very frequent, and no fewer than 27 cases of this description occurred during the first five months of the administration of the territory.
Twenty-five persons were arrested in respect of these robberies, of whom 18 were convicted and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
The Triad Society was also found to be very active, and steps were taken to suppress it.
One leader of the Society was arrested in possession of insignia and documents of the Society and was convicted and sent to prison. Another prominent member suffered the same fate, while two more leaders were arrested, convicted of robbery, and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
During the last quarter of the year there has been a marked decrease in robbery and other crime in the territory, the result being due partly, no doubt, to the arrests and convictions above referred to, and partly to the system of patrols, especially at night, which the gradual opening of the required stations has rendered possible.
The Police have also been utilised in various ways in obtaining information on various matters.
The territory as a whole has been found exceedingly malarious, and the Police of all nationalities suffered severely from fever.
The total number of Police stationed in the New Territory at the end of the year after the opening of San Tin, the last station opened, was-
32 Europeans
86 Indians
27 Chinese
7 Interpreters.
There were also employed in patrolling in launches the waters of the New Territory-
9 Europeans
41 Chinese.
CRIME.
I attach a return* of cases from the New Territory tried in the Police Court of Victoria during 1899, with which I have been furnished by Mr. Gompertz, Acting Police Magistrate, who has also given me the figures and information on which the following remarks are based.
The first case was heard on April 24th, which gives roughly eight months, or three-quarters of the year, as the period during which cases from the New Territory have been brought into Hongkong.
The total number of cases, exclusive of those from the New Territory, heard in the Police Court of Victoria in 1899 was 10,003, comprising 11,175 accused persons for the twelve months. In addition there were 155 cases from the New Territory, with an aggregate of 271 accused persons.
The cases from the New Territory represent 0.154 of the whole. If, however, the first quarter of the year be omitted, as the newly leased area was not then under the jurisdiction of this Colony, these cases will be 0.206 of the whole.
* Not printed.
1887-1903
13
271
for the murder of one of the two men. The nephew of the elder mentioned was pardoned, and the sentences on the elder and the third prisoner were commuted to imprisonincat for life and ten years with hard labour respectively. These convictions had a wholesome effect upon the population, especially as two of the culprits belonged to the local gentry.
It was found that robberies by night by gangs of armed Chinese, principally from Chinese territory, were very frequent, and no fewer than 27 cases of this description occurred during the first five months of the administration of the territory.
Twenty-five persons were arrested in respect of these robberies, of whoin 18 were convicted and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
The Triad Society was also found to be very active, and steps were taken to suppress it.
One leader of the Society was arrested in possession of insignia and documents of the Society and was convicted and sent to prison." Another prominent member suffered the same fate, while two more leaders were arrested, convicted of robbery, and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
During the last quarter of the year there has been a marked decrease in robbery and other crime in the territory, the result being due partly, no doubt, to the arrests and convictions above referred to, and partly to the systein of patrols, especially at night, which the gradual opening of the required stations has rendered possible.
The Police have also been utilised in various ways in obtaining information on various
matters.
The territory as a whole has been found exceedingly malarious, and the Police of all nationalities suffered severely from fever.
The total number of Police stationed in the New Territory at the end of the year after the opening of San Tin, the last station opened, was-
32 Europeans
86 Indians 27 Chinest
7 Interpreters.
There were also employed in patrolling in launches the waters of the New Territory-
9 Europeans 41 Chinese.
CRIME.
I attach a return* of cases from the New Territory tried in the Police Court of Victoria during 1899, with which I have been furnished by Mr. Gompertz, Acting Police Magistrate, who has also given me the figures and information on which the following remarks are based.
The first case was heard on April 24th, which gives roughly eight months, or three- quarters of the year, as the period during which cases from the New Territory have been brought into Hongkong.
The total number of cases, exclusive of those from the New Territory, heard in the Police Court of Victoria in 1809 was 10,003, comprising 11,175 accused persons for the twelve months. In addition there were 155 cases from the New Territory, with an aggregate of 271 accused persons.
The cases from the New Territory represent 0154 of the whole. If, however, the first quarter of the year be omitted, as the newly leased area was not then under the jurisdiction of this Colony, these cases will be '0206 of the whole.
• Not printed.
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