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ment of others than Chinese, as it would be absurd for a moment to expect the native portion of the force to act in any way as a preventive in the case of riots, open violence, or political treachery on the part of their countrymen; on the con- trary, it is known from experience they would certainly sympathise with and probably directly or indirectly assist them. I contend that there may exist at any moment the same necessity as at any previous time, that the force should not have in it what would be under the above circumstances an element of the greatest danger to the safety of the Community; and I think that for the above reason alone the employment of any large number of Chinese as constables is most undesirable.
From my own experience, and from the opinions of many well informed native residents, I am convinced that only men of similar character to those now in the force could be induced to serve, as respectable men can invariably get employment more profitable and more congenial to their nature and habits, and it must be clear to any one who has had but a little experience of the natives in the force, that they are but a part of the admirably organised system which from time to time plunders the Colony. The respectable Chinese, I know, have the greatest contempt for their character (or want of it), while the shop-keepers and lower orders have the greatest fear of their squeezing capabilities.
The character of the Chinese does not display sufficient energy in employment of this kind, but on the contrary, their natural temperament and habits unfit them for a zealous discharge of any such active duty, into the spirit of which they do not in the least enter; their want of physical courage too is a most urgent objection.
It is sufficiently clear to all that, in the detection of crime, they are worse than useless, as, although possessing the intelligence necessary for its discovery, it is en- tirely opposed to their interests to give information that would lead to the de- tection and prevention of what, it is well known, is in most instances a source of considerable profit to them. I entirely concur in the opinions of the Honourable CHARLES MAY given in his evidence, which I think should carry the greatest weight, as he has a far greater Police experience than any one in this Colony, and is therefore well able to judge of the best material for the composition of the force, being a good judge of character and having a considerable knowledge of that of the Chinese; and, with all due deference to the opinions and evidence of Dr. LEGGE, must be far better able than most people here to form an estimate of the qualities likely to form a good or bad constable, let them exist in whom they may.
As to their employment as special detectives, I can conceive nothing more dangerous. While feeling convinced they are the only means that could be used successfully here to cope with the subtle cunning of those by whom the bulk of crime in this Colony is committed, at the same time almost all who have had any experience of Chinese character would shrink with a similar horror to that ex- pressed by the Honourable CHARLES MAY from investing them with the slightest semblance of a power that they could not fail to exercise in a manner most pre- judicial to those of their fellow countrymen who declined complying with their demands. I am convinced that the natives would look with the same distrust and suspicion on them as they do on the understrappers of their own officials, ns they would soon have experience of their exercising a similar course of oppression which no controlling power here could in the least prevent.
Mir. Lemann.
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The foregoing expresses all I need say, I think, against the employment of Chinese; while the only arguments I can adduce in their favour are that they do not drink and can stand the climate, both of considerable importance, but nothing as compared with their utter incapacity and uselessness in every other respect.
Although objecting so strongly to Chinese in any number in the force, I quite agree with Dr. LEGGE that the Native Community might be made of considerable use in assisting to preserve order in the city, more especially in their own portion of it, and I would suggest that the division of the city into wards be revised, and more responsibility thrown on, and more use made of the head-men or district watchmen. These might be elected by the ward itself, care being taken in suspi- cions districts that a man of bad character is not put forward, and if these men did their duty and were careful as to who reside in their ward, no thief would remain long undetected in the Colony, as every native here knows thoroughly how his neighbour gets his living, and someone or other could at any moment point out where the various thieves are. SIR EDMUND HORNBY's remarks cannot in any way apply to this Colony, as the natives of the North of China, against whom the Shanghai Police is employed, are by nature and character entirely different from the turbulent people of this Colony and the adjacent provinces.
With regard to West Indian or other negroes, their habitual drunkenness, want of truthfulness, and proverbial stupidity should be sufficient to prevent even the consideration of their employment as constables; as warders or guardians of convicts in the gaol or chain-gangs on the road they perhaps do good service.
I would recommend, even though the cost of the force would thereby be much increased, a greater number of European constables for night duty, and that the remainder of the force should consist of a few Sikhs, Bombay men, and a few Chinese, but that neither of the last three named should ever rise beyond the rank of constables; all these make sufficiently good patrols during the day when the sun is too strong for Europeans, and would soon become more efficient were they oftener visited on their beats by a European Sergeant. It is but natural they should patrol in the languid, vacant way now exhibited when they feel tolerably safe from the visit of any superior officer.
(Signed) H. LOWCOCK.
In receiving the following remarks, the Commission must bear in mind that I left Hongkong on 30th April, 1872, before completion of the sittings of the Com- mission, and that in the consideration of the Draft Report, I have not had the advantage of being on the spot, or of personal discussion of the different points with my co-members of the Commission.
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