1960-03-05 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1960.

VIOLENCE IN THE THIRTIES...

TXHILE it is not true that all criminals are victims of their circumstances-it is equally true that most are. Where there is poverty, overcrowding, and the attending chances of hunger and dirt, there the future criminal is born. While the direct duty of the Police is to anticipate the illegal progress of the criminal, society has so fashioned itself that at last, prevention is better than cure, is not just a solemn saw, but is reckoned good plain commonsense.

Even so, the role of the Policeman is recognised as being the guardian of society, but more and more the Police have associated themselves with all institutions which seek to reform the breeding grounds of crime,

While this latter is possible in such countries as England where

its society changed

pattem rapidly when once legislation was effected to include the under-priviledged classes with in its framework. It is surprising, that such a reformation was con- sidered practical in Hongkong where the Chinese criminals re- Karded themselves CS 1 clasa right outside the ethics which

overned ordinary resisty.

It is surprising, but nonethe Ines gratifying, to find the Hong- kong Polloe, opening the Street Boys' Club for walls and strays under 18 years of age. In April

1926.

These poor boys lived from hand to mouth, and slept where they

above

the

was immediately amount required for their board and lodging. They were invited to the Y.M.C.A. and during the immer months, they were taken on bathing purtles.

During the winter, they were with hot baths at provided Police Headquarters. This work, which was of inestimable socfal value was ended in July 1936,

when the Bemand Home and and Aberdeen Industrial School tonic over its functions.

On April 13, 1928, Mr Lee familiar to us, Coinusioner of el-san, a well-known member Police,

shot down as he was entering

was introduced on

of the Chinese community was January 1, 1998.

is club.

No hue or cry was raised at the moment, and the sourderer made good his escape. In spite of diligent police enquiries, no arrest was made.

Events which were rapidly to The lives of all of 19 change who lived during these years, were now taking shape. For away la

Elitiet Europe, Herr was just about to approach his

and In February 1928, alterations years of tear

grandeur. were carried out on rented white in the cast, the imperial premises at the junction of designs of Japan were taking a Prince Edward Road and Nuthan more ambitious form.

Hood, Kowloon, for adapting China had long smarted from them for a Police Training School.

the licking Japan had adminis- The work WRA com, lered at the end of last century, pleted in May 1928.

So the years ticked over with the more painful in that it was a repetition of events and crimes Chian had regarded as inferior.

inilleted by a neighbouring state which kept the polico busy.

But Japan had gone from sue- The water shortage of 1929

The Hongkong Police Derve placed a further burgien upon there to success. The thrashing which was disbanded after the Force, Seareely any rain fell given to the armles and navy of first World War was re-activated between August 1928 and July Imperial Russia had proved, with on permanent buris in 1027, 13 1929, when, on the latter dire consequences yet to come, New legislation was required date, a benvy rainfall relleved that the legend of Occidental for this.

the situation.

superiority was but a myth. But the nearness of China placed her first on the lis

Since 1025, the Special Con-

could in the streets, a stables were promising stuff for such Chinese Forins who came nerors then.

A grant

The Street Boys' Cich was given premises at Central Police Staiton. Accommodation Was found for each boy as he joined, He was also given a sinali grmit Dox to enable from the Poor him to buy a suit of clothes.

Every member rald a sub- scription of 25 cents a month. In return he was given free hawker's licence, anti was ent a small sum of money to him up in business.

set

"In July, 1928, the Ying Wah College authorities entered the boys as night school pupils, and very good results were obtain

vd.

In October of the same year, supplied with the boys were two menis a day at a cost of 20 rents. The boys settled their ac- counts for food at the end of each month.

for funds A public appeal was inade, and some European Arns and sane Chinese friends This money subser bed $2,201.

the Club to secure enabled premises at 40, Hollywood Road, und Sergeant Fung Kam rosited on the premises and looked after the welfare of the boys.

The boys were taught to save such money they earned which

had been continuously enrolled. It was considered advisable that all who wanted to serve the community in this innnner should be given the opportunity.

First Chinese Company was formed, and tater

an inllen Company. Those who had n ingle fer speed were recruited for the Flying Squad,

(intor cyclists). The training of the Palice Reserve was at the Police Training School and the Central Police Station.

However, like many voluntary organisations, once the first line wave of enthusiasra had passed, the affair begins to fall to pieces, Not quite, hi this case, but the 300 volunteers

1927

dropped to 182 In 1928.

of

The Police had their hands full In 1928. Beginning in January, the Colonial Treasurer reported to the Police that $260,407.13 had been fraudulently obtained from the Government

Serious

the

Today the Orient, tomorrow the Occident.

The Colony was down to the last few tailons of water had to troubles brought an outburst of bottom of the pitcher, and

So it was that Sino-Japanese

be rationed with scrupulous care. anti-Japanese feeling to the

The position Was certainly Colony.

Trouble started down and Government had at Wanchal during the evening serious, to resort to auch emergency of September 23, 1931, when

as chartering п proceedings

en attack on certain Japanese water, tanker to bring in

and owned shops was made. taoko on the

Thursday, next day, erecting huge water-front to store the supplies September 24, conditions TO

malner quiet. but towards broncht in.

As usual, i was the poorer evening there were some signs rowdylum, but nothing class crowded together in their of

who shared one serious happened. The next dwellings,

among many, who water tap suffered most. Then, of cours it is these

people who are e rst victims of the rumans who always exploit such a situation.

The

HONGKONG

The.

POLICE LUFF

By JOHN

Special Police were required for duty to control the endless queues at every street fountain and water tank. However, this

outfie. Two rioters were wounded. Colony, At the same time, there emergency passed rather belter day, however, there were

began to was noted decrease in serious the At this, the crowds even the more optimistic breaks of hooliganism in account by than

before a offences, although petty offences and Eastern Districts. disperse, but not hud hoped, the Chinese having Central

been increased. canadence greater

when numerous in thority than in any other of the crises which brightened long- kong's earlier Hie,

means of three forged ebeques.

The Auger pointed tu Carvalho Yeo, who left Government Ser- vice in January following a dis- agreement with one of the Treasury oficials,

In August, 1928, Carvalho Yen was picked up in Shanghai and handed over to the Hongkong Police,

Yeo was found guilty on three charges, and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to run con currently.

There are

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111-

not

wore

The Race Course fire of 1918 which accounted for hundreds of lives.

at youths who were involved In ed by economic conditions,

and least, not entirely. It can be offences at on early age, stamped out if the law is suffi- could casliy have become mature clently harsh. But none within criminals. such

British territory where

By the end of the your, some legislation holds sway would 50 boys were ordered detention permit the extreme measures by the Magistrates, 20 for illegal adopted by the Communist hawiding, and 13 for inreeny, Puritan Slates, However, up to The remaining 11 cases werę uż the year 1932, a certain tolere-

a much more serious nature. tion was wisely directed.

year, By the following

it to the comfort of the patrons, was found that the remand home

of disense was a success. There but to the control

1,228 admissions to the home, and 242 were actually sentenced to a period of detention. Brothels

the Parents and relatives of Between October 1932 and

buys were allowed to visit them June 1933, there: were four

However, the "we do not per- on Sundays, and in most cases, In Victorin, things were much hold-ups on the Talpo Road, all

therefore It does not

a new beginning was made by Saturday 26th seemed to see quieter, und the Follee were able in the neighbourhood of the mit it,

was introduced the young offenders. the trouble over. No serious re- to handle affairs on their own 3 milestone.

exist" attitude Just without calling upon the Mill- then, ports were inade,

the to the Colony. This followed Mr C. P. Fallon who had re- On July 7, 1933, late In.

by a lady tired from the Hongkong Police Poilco after mid-day, a violent attack tory, but seeing how violent evening. a

Datective certain complaints

politician who interfered, after was appointed Superintendent. the Patrol surprised the robbers, and was made against the Japanese were the riots in Kowloon,

who A similar institution Wag shops in Wanchal, a number Military continued to stand by. there was an exchange of shots. the manner of politicians

By Sunday September 27, all No one was dit, however.

Itch to interfero with matters opened for girls in September, being badly damaged.

1934. This section was under This last attack Was so was quiet again savo for an at- Following the Pollee enquiry, which they do not understand.

were wick made by a mols on a shop a number of Chinese males wUIC So it came about that the the charge of Adjutant Dorothy serious that the Military valled upon to assist the Police. In Hang Hom. The rioters were arrested and banished from the brothels were closed in

June Brazler. the quickly dispersed, after which Colony. and troops were held at

mavo drove the After this, a regular Police prostitutes

onto the streets, alert in Wanchal, Shaukiwan, the Colony settled down again.

Patrol was maintained and Kowloon.

on the brought about many · "siy" Taipo Road at the stated area, brothels, and created an opening and this seems to have kept any

for the pimps to solicit an be would-bo-highwaymen at large..

half of the "aly" brothels. Prostitution, the oldest profts also sent the V.D. figures sky sion in the world, is always

high. social problem,

had murder attacks upon dastardly Japanese were made.

These commilled at an isolated villa

But a new venture in crime which is so dreadfully associated bruken 1 Po Kong, a mile from Kew gave the Police much trouble at with prostitution. quickly attacks were

six out of about this period. up when the Palice arrived, and loan City, where

inmates met as eleven

brutal During all these years, we the crowds soon broke up have been using the title of the Emergency Unlt come upon deaths. CaptainSuperintendent of the scene. Police, but on January 1, 1930. the title was changed to fasper- for General of Police. In order that changes can be noted with- in the compactness of one para- graph, let us leap across the

to note years

that the

titl

Six die

And

£

1032. This

It

Approval

stic science.

The girls were taught dome- and every after- noon were given some school- ing. Games and gardening oc- cupled their leisure hours,

As a matter of fact, Kowloon had been pretty quiet until the evening of Friday September 25 In all, these anti-Japanese when a Japanese, set upon by riots cost the hooligans six a mob of hooligans, tools refuge rioters killed, twenty-five in- in Yaumati Police Station. jured, and over a hundred per

The Police made a number of I have written elsewhere that The situation in Kowloon sons arrested in Kowloon

Umno arrests, and the pimps were a newspaper man, at the rapidly deteriorated and on Victoria,

it was Saturday afternoon,

Needless to say, DUT

old Hongkong was about to become banished from the Colony. outcome of Another the British, prophesied that Hang- necessary to call upon the Mill- friends the Triads roused

Seven platoons of the mob, and then under cover of long, with its milder laws and movement was the number tary,

halls established High- the anti-Japanese sentiment, set softer punishments, would at- dance Argyle and Sutherland lauders were called upon to about their usual business of tract all the vice of South China. different parts of the Colony. It

became very certain that unless roadway. support the Police in Youma- thieving and general lawlessness.

did something. Government about them, they would pro-

tl, Mongkok, Shamshulpo, Kowloon City districts.

Stoned

and

At the time of the events re- ported above, world depression

Nuisance

this

On August 13, 1934, the first signal was automatic traffic erected at the junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road. of The light was controlled by the

themselves in vehicles

passing over rubber mata set in the

The installation was a suc- Was cess, and much approval made about the diminishing of hit Hongkong. The Hongkong In a sense it did, and much duce very undesirable results.

Government then approved horn blowing in the area. dollar dropped in value, and nuisance il afforded, the more so

In November, 1934,

tre following the pattern set all over when one considers that all who the licensing and regulations The Police and soldiers were the world,

the by Police of such establishments ominous shadow of the shape of Hongkong had to associated themselves with

the stoned from a

Miscellaneous things to come. fell across the sale distance tighten its belt.

different under problem, did so from

On the 20th of that of Colony. Licences Ordinance, No. 83 frum verandahs, windows, and This economy move affected view points.

month, the first air raid pre- In open spaces where the hooli- the Police, and the strength of

Obviously the early mission. 1033.

scheme was carried Kans could find cover among the the Force was reduced by 150 aries would have outlawed it number of bogus massage estab-hor

have none of it. Yet a further result was the cautions

Lights in the principal large crowds which gathered. members. including 20 Brilish

Needless to say, this disorder officers.

both legally and morally, lishments started up in the city, thoroughfares was exploited by the Triads On December 2, 1932, good Thuse who looked upon it as a Strong Police action was taken areas were blacked out. who quickly turned this wave of relations were further establish- social problem would have which resulted in the banish- available Police Recerve anti-Japanese feeling into aned between Hongkong and Car- legislation of control; that is, ment of 50 persons from the Special Constables

duty, ton when a party of 20 Canton tolerate it in order that we can Colony. Most of the proprietors

of these establishments were The general public was much the Polles accepted an invitation to

all intrigued by this exercise, and Bulla my opinion that the Japanese. Needless to say, their visit the Colony.

establishments

that were the lesson learned was Bspect usually massage

needed on efficient nade subject to the leansing Hongkong laws.

A remand home for juvenc offenders was opened on Novern- ber 20, 1933. This was a great step forward in dealing with

excuse to lvot.

It was not long before mobs began to turn

control it.

violence upon Europeans also. A football match was played really stupid The worst area was Shamshuipo between the Canton Police and useried by those new to the east of evil reputation for vice long Hongkong Police. The Canton is to seek legislation to outlaw before It came within the British Police won the match.

it, and then leave others to en- jurisdiction.

The trade depression and In- force that legislation. there creasing unemployment Beni

For this much is certain. Pro- open many Chinese nway from the Elitution is not a problem creat

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