CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 69

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

36.

were set on fire; the mat barracks of Wong-nei-chung, and the Market Place Act, were attempted to be burned; and at noon a number of Chinese armed with knives entered the Market Place, threatened all around, assaulted a man, & then walked off.

2 European Police were consequently molested.

The number of prisoners in the jail of Hong Kong averaged during 1843/44 from 20 to 90 a month: nearly every prisoner was Chinese, and the crimes with which they were charged were generally piracy, robbery, and murder. Burglary was also common.

There has been no diminution of crime; the number of persons in the jail have increased; and the nightly robberies are as frequent, if not more so, than they were three years ago.

The shop-keepers do not remain more than a few months on the Island when another set takes their place.

37

There is, in fact, a continual shifting of a Bedouin sort of population whose migratory, predatory, gambling and dissolute habits unfit them for continuous industry, and render them not only useless, but highly injurious subjects to the State.

A few take such employment in shops as they can get; the European inhabitants, independent of those in the employ of Government, consist of: members of about 19 Mercantile Houses, and their clerks. A few persons have arrived here from New-South-Wales to buy, and better their fortune, many of whom would be glad to return.

The Principal mercantile firms are those engaged in the Spicers trade who have run hither from Canton, as a safer position for an opium depot, and ...

24 which

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36. were set on fire; the mat barracks of Wong-nei-chung, and the Market Place Act, were attempted to be burned; and at noon a number of Chinese armed with knives entered the Market Place, threatened all around, assaulted a man, & then walked off. 2 European Police were consequently molested. The number of prisoners in the jail of Hong Kong averaged during 1843/44 from 20 to 90 a month: nearly every prisoner was Chinese, and the crimes with which they were charged were generally piracy, robbery, and murder. Burglary was also common. There has been no diminution of crime; the number of persons in the jail have increased; and the nightly robberies are as frequent, if not more so, than they were three years ago. The shop-keepers do not remain more than a few months on the Island when another set takes their place. 37 There is, in fact, a continual shifting of a Bedouin sort of population whose migratory, predatory, gambling and dissolute habits unfit them for continuous industry, and render them not only useless, but highly injurious subjects to the State. A few take such employment in shops as they can get; the European inhabitants, independent of those in the employ of Government, consist of: members of about 19 Mercantile Houses, and their clerks. A few persons have arrived here from New-South-Wales to buy, and better their fortune, many of whom would be glad to return. The Principal mercantile firms are those engaged in the Spicers trade who have run hither from Canton, as a safer position for an opium depot, and ... 24 which
Baseline (Original)
36. were set on fire ; the mat barracks of tr Nog', and the Market Place Act, were attempted lobe burned; and at noon a amber of China. ramen anned unitles kuives entered the auacket place, threatened alt. around, pled ar -man, & then walkent 2 Irropean opean Police- nevxy con molested, The number of prisoners in the jail. of Hong Hong averaged during 1843/44 hom 20 to 90 à mouth : nearly every a prisoner wast chinese, and the crimes wish which shey swarially piracy, Robbery ed werenn charged murder, Kurylacy bear There has beeue no dimination of crime; the number of pusmension- the jail have encreased ; and the- rightly robberies are as frequent; if not anore so the they worsh than Three years ago. The shop-keepers do not remaini more than a few months the Island when another set-takes their حمت flave 37 There is, in facet & continual 67 shifting of a Bedouin cost of population whose muigatory, predatory, gaubling and dessoluté trabits, ulter for Continuous industry, by unfit them. and ponder them not only useless, but highly injurious subjects to fora а пчел Therra per the attempt other inhgly tants; a few lascant sech employment in shops . The Propean inhabitants unde= -pendant of those in the employ of Government consist of: ine nembers of about 19. Merish outile Houses, and their clerks . A few persons have arrived here freers New-SouthUtaly to buy, rend better their fortrine, suony of whom would be glad to retion The Principal whether.. I are mercantile format a AAA shose engaged. the Spicers traide who have runes hither frous precone, ast a safer positive for an opium depot, and ". 24 which
2026-05-16 16:08:18 · Baseline
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36.

were set on fire ; the mat barracks of tr

Nog',

and the Market Place Act, were

attempted lobe burned; and at noon a

amber of China.

ramen anned unitles kuives

entered the auacket place, threatened alt.

around,

pled ar

-man, & then walkent

2

Irropean

opean Police-

nevxy con molested,

The number of prisoners in the jail.

of Hong Hong averaged during 1843/44

hom 20 to 90 à mouth : nearly every

a

prisoner wast chinese, and the crimes

wish which shey

swarially piracy,

Robbery

ed werenn

charged murder, Kurylacy

bear

There has beeue no dimination

of crime; the number of pusmension- the jail have encreased ; and the- rightly robberies are as frequent; if not anore so the they worsh

than

Three years

ago.

The shop-keepers do not remaini

more than a few months

the

Island when another set-takes their

حمت

flave

37

There is, in facet & continual 67

shifting of a Bedouin cost of population whose muigatory, predatory, gaubling and dessoluté trabits, ulter

for

Continuous industry,

by unfit them.

and ponder

them not only useless, but highly

injurious subjects

to fora

а пчел

Therra

per

the attempt other inhgly tants; a few

lascant sech employment in shops . The Propean inhabitants unde=

-pendant of those in the employ

of Government consist of: ine

nembers

of about 19. Merish outile Houses, and their clerks . A few persons have arrived here freers New-SouthUtaly to buy, rend better their fortrine, suony of whom would be glad to retion

The Principal

whether..

I are

mercantile format a

AAA

shose engaged.

the Spicers traide who have runes hither frous precone, ast a safer positive for

an opium depot, and ".

24 which

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