1874 — Page 235

No. 26.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report from the Captain Superintendent of Police, for the year 1874, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1875.

No. 13.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secietury.

CENTRAL POLICE BARRACKS., VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 30th January, 1875.

SIR, I have the honor to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Annual Police Report, Statistics for the Blue Blook, and Returns of Crime for the year 1874.

2. The returns show a decrease of crime to the extent of 22.96 per cent on all cases reported, For of 11.47 per cent in serious crimes, and 25.45 in minor offences: as has always been the practice the percentage has been calculated on the number of cases reported, and not on the number of prisoners.

3 Two cases of inurder occurred, for one of which on British Kowloon four men were sentenced no death, but this penalty was commuted to Penal Servitude for life. The second case occurred en Sai-Ying-Pún, and the suspected man escaped on to the Mainland of China, he was however traced down, and on application being made to the Chinese Authorities, he was by them arrested and convicted.

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4. The execution of criminals takes place in the Magistracy Compound, which is situate in the centre of the European portion of the City. Whether this extreme publicity in executions is desirable is very doubtful. Independent of the disgust felt by many respectable people at seeing the scaffold standing in so conspicuous a place, it is found that the crowd of spectators rarely num- bers two hundred persons, of whom scarcely a moiety are Chinese. There appears to be little reason why the executions here, as in England, should not take place in one of the yards of the Gaol and, if deemed necessary, in the presence of the convicts.

Benger,

5. In my Report for 1873, I alluded to the decrease of Piracy, but remarked that it would be ery imprudent for European sailing vessels to rely on immunity from attack, and to sail unarmed, until it was known what would become of the men thrown out of employ by the closing of the Macao Barracoons. In 1874, no European sailing vessel was attacked, but the steamer Spark was, on the 22nd of August, captured by Pirates on her way from Canton to Macao; and the result of the vant of proper precautions having been taken for the safety of the crew, and the protection of the Fessel, was painfully shown. The Captain and five others were inurdered, and one European pas- and five others of the crew were seriously wounded, whilst the Pirates retained possession of, and plundered the vessel for five hours. One of the head-pirates was arrested in this Colony, and executed. At Canton six Pirates were executed, one died of wounds received at his capture, and two others were in November last waiting in prison the result of further inquiries. In addition to the above, five men were arrested in Hongkong, but released for want of suflicient evidence; and here I may remark that I can remember no case in which the malefactors were seen by so many people, and yet so much difficulty experienced in obtaining testimony. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Authorities at Macao, where the passengers chiefly lived, those who were capable of giving valuable information maintained a steady indifference to the matter, and pretended a difficulty in being able to identify men who were for five hours in their company. The. Chinese Authorities applied for the arrest and rendition of two other men for the same offence. The arrests were effected, and the prisoners committed for trial at the Supreme Court, but the witnesses failed to appear; the investigation however before the Magistrate threw great doubts on the guilt of the ac- kused. In cach of two other cases classed as piracies three men were arrested, and on application given up to the Chinese Authorities for trial.

6. As might have been expected from the cessation of the emigration of Chinese coolies from Macao the number of cases of kidnapping of that class has greatly diminished. In 1873, this Government passed an Ordinance for the better protection of Chinese women and children. A number, of cases arise from the breach of this Ordinance, more especially as Chinese custom permits the buying, and selling of women and children.