1869 — Page 226

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference

LICO. 133

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-|

26 ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

41d

210

No. 114.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

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,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 25th September, 1869.

MEMO:

J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

Hoxerose, 20th September, 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. Jousstos, 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 Statisties prove the population of Shanghai to be comparatively better conducted than that of Hongkong. 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. JoussTON's statements in his own language ---

6. Perhaps. however, the most satisfactory arguent is to be derived from official statistics, and I will therefore with your permission compare the police statisties 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 nuthenticuteil fact in opposition to them is as good as a hundred.

"7. From the official report of 1828, published by the Captain Superintendent of Police at Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Government Gazetle of the 17th April, 1869, it appears that the total strength of the police force in that colony w** 633, viz., 113 Europeans, 328 coloured, and 152 Chinese, In Shanghai, for the same perical, the police force numbered 105, viz., 39 Europeans and 66 Chinese. In both places the Chinese element in the police force is useful muly against crima 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 ifong Kong on the 31st December, 1867, published in the Hung Kong Government Gazetie 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 Hung Kong in 1868, about balanced the number arriving, it will appear that the police were in the proportion of about une to seven Foreign Residents.

8. In Shanghai the number of Foreigners at present is, exclusive of police, 4,099. Hence the Foreign police force is

to the Foreign residents in the proportion of one to one hundred and twenty,

P

"3. As to crimes:—In Hong Kong during 1808 there were 1,033 convictious of Foreigners under the bends of “Murder,” "Manslaughter," "Roblery with Violence,'

‚" "Hurglary," "Assault," "Lareeut," Kidnapping,” “Unlawful Possession," and "Pirucy." This is a percentage on the whole number of Foreign residents of twenty-nine convictions for serious offences. In Shanghai for the period of twelve months. from April, 1888, to March, 1860, the number of Foreigners apprehended and convicted was 585, 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." Thas 195 may fairly represent the number of more or less serious crime 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 hears 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 Slinnghai than is required for a like purpose in Hong Kong, although Foreigners here are more numerons by 1,187 than in Hong Kong. It will further appear that, in spite of this, order is much more effectually maintained here than it is there, although Hong Kong is a colony under a well organised Government, regulated by English law, while in Shunghai we have to deal with the Courts of be less than twelve Foreign Governments.

11. The deduction from my argument is, I trust, obvious-that in comparison with Hong Kong alone Shanghai cannot justly be denominated a sink of iniquity exceeding in its immorality all other ports of Europe, America, and 'Asia.”

4. In the first place, Mr. JOHNSTON assumes in the above 7th paragraph, that the resident Hongkong Foreign Population was only 3,551 in 1868, and makes that number his standard of comparison for obtaining the ratio of crime to population in Hongkong and Shanghai, respectively. For such a