- That the whole body of non-official Justices of the Peace wait upon His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor by appointment, aul ascertain if any, and what, immediate steps are being taken by the Government with regard to the reformation of the Police Force."
His Excellency the GOVERNOR said that he would lay the Resolution before his Council, which he would at once summon for the purpose, and that a reply would be given in due course.
Mr. Rruts then introduced the second Resolution, stating that the inefficiency of the Police was a fact which hardly any one in the Colony would attempt to deny, and that it was a most expensive establishment every householder in the place know to his sorrow, when he had to pay up the extraordinarily heavy assessment for Police rates. The opinions as to the cause of this inefficiency were various. In one quarter it was stated that it was owing to the bad materials of which the body of the Force was composed; in another, it was the inefficiency and inexperience of the heads of the department; in a third, that all the troubles were owing to interference with the heads of the Police by the heads of other departments. But whatever the cause might be, the fact remained that the Police was certainly inefficient and very expensive; and the only way to arrive at the truth was by a fair inquiry in which the community (out of whose pockets the money came) should participate. The second Resolution was then read; it is as follows:--
"That His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor be also requested to appoint a Commission consisting principally of residents not official members of Government with full power and authority to enquire into the existing state of the Police Force, the result of such enquiry to be made public, and that the former official report of the Commnission of 1869 be as a preliminary placed in the hands of the Commission now desired to be appointed.”
Mr. Rr explained that he was in doubt whether the Commission referred to was held in 1869 or 1870; but the one to which he referred was held after the Showkewan murder.
HIS EXCELLENCY gave the same reply as before, viz, that he would consult his Council, and after he had done so would state his intentions.
The deputation then retired.
The following reply has been sent to the gentlemen composing the above deputation:---
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
"HONGKONG, 6th September, 1871.
SIR-His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in Council having considered the application nade by the deputation of certain of the Justices of the Peace, which he had the honor to receive on the 2nd instant, I am instructed to address to you the following reply, which I shall fed obliged by your communicating to the gentlemen who accompanied you on that occasion.
2.—The task of protecting the residents of Hongkong from the lawless characters who especially at certain periods of the year pour down on the Colony from Canton, Macao and other places on the mainland, is one of extreme difficulty, even for those who possess special qualifications for the purpose.
"3.is Excellency SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL had directed his particular attention to the improvement of the Police Force of this Colony, and the Lieutenant-Governor has been at all times most anxious to promote the efficiency of this branch of the public service by any changes in the existing arrangements which his professional experience could suggest.
4.Her Majesty's Government, however, are not disposed to sanction any material alteration in the present consti- tution of the force during the absence of SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, whose early return to the Colony may now be anticipated. Accordingly, when the Honorable Chief Justice SMALE in the mouth of November last, suggested the appointinent of a commission to inquire into the state of the Police Force, and caused a written statement to that effect to be recorded in the minutes of the Legislative Council, Her Majesty's Government, to whom the matter was referred, did not concur in the necessity for the proposed inquiry.
"5.-There can be very little doubt that the Police Force is mumerically insufficient at present, having regard to the increase in the number of old offenders and suspicious characters who have necessarily been permitted to remain in the Colony since the disallowance of Ordinance No. 7 of 1870. Two measures, however, were proposed at the last Meeting of the Legislative Council, which will enable the Government rapidly to recruit the Police Force, now below its autho- rized strength, at a small expense to the Colony, and also to deal with offenders who have been reported, and are now at large in Hongkong, in violation of the orders passed by the Governor in Council for their banishment.
6. His Excellency has no doubt that SR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, Will upon his return to the Colony, deal with the subject of crime with his well-known energy and abiling, and if any circumstances should cccur to delay his return, the Lieutenant-Governor will be prepared to submit to the Secretary of State, the measures which, in his opinion, are likely to prove useful in increasing the security of the Colony.
7-Under these circumstances, His Excellency does not consider that he would derive much assistance from the labors of the Commission which you proposed, though he begs to express his thanks to the gentlemen associated with you, who were willing to devote their time and attention to the subject.I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient Servant,
*J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
The Honorable P. RYRIN,
(Signed.)
"&c. &c...,
&c."
MEETING OF JUSTICES.
A meeting of non-official Justices of the Peace was held on the 11th instant, pursuant to notice, at the Club: Present:--Honorable P. Ryne, (in the chair), Honorable R. RowerT, E. R. BELILIOs, Esq., T. G. LINSTEAD, Esq., T. PYRE, Esq. Dr. O'BRIEN, J. BERWICK, Esq., 8. D. SASSOON, Esq., G. F. MACLEAN, Esq., E. ARTHUR, Esq., S. J. Gowen, Esq., W. WILSON, Esq., J. M. VICKERS, Esq.
Mr. RYRIE stated that the reply received through the Honorable the Colonial Secretary to the Resolations handed by the Deputation to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor on 2nd instant, had been communicated to the meeting, and was considered to be of a very unsatisfactory nature, more especially seeing that the murderous attacks and robberies had rather increased than otherwise since the day the Deputation waited on his Excellency. A meeting had been held on the 9th instant, at which a Resolution had been arrived at, which in the opinion of some gentlemen who were then unable to attend, and also, after further reflection, of others who were present, filled to convey a correct impression of their views; he had therefore thought it best to summon this meeting in order that the subject might receive further consideration.
After some discussion, it was then proposed by Mr. T. 6. Linstead, seconded by Mr. E. R. BELILIOS, and carried with one dissentient :--
"That the resolution passed at the Meeting of the 9th instant be annulled."
It was then proposed by Mr. T. PYRE, seconded by Mr. J. BERWICK, and carried unanimously :--
"That this Mecting has received the reply of the Ilonorable the Colonial Secretary with extreme disappointment, and that as His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor declines to appoint a Commission to enquire into the state of the Police, a public petition, praying for a full inquiry, be addressed to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, and forwarded through His Excellency, a copy being sent to C. MAGNIAC, Esq., M.P., for presentation in the same quarter."
Proposed by Mr. G. F. MACLEAN, seconded by Mr. E. ARTHUR, and carried unanimously:--
"That His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor be requested to forward to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, copies of all the resolutions passed at this and the first Meeting, and copies of the correspondence
connected therewith."
The Meeting then adjourned.
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