CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 483

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RG 2 DEC 00)

Government House,

HongKong, 17

17th 1

November, 1900.

481

Among the injuries suffered from the late

typhoon I find that the two new police launches only just

taken over have suffered severely, having drifted out of the

harbour of refuge and sustained such injuries against the sea

wall that one has sunk and the other must be docked for ex-

tensive repairs. It will so far as we know at present cost

over $3,000 to repair them.

2. The direct cause was the incapacity

of the water police constables in charge, who were recruited

from the Marines, but who knew practically nothing about boats

and neglected the necessary precautions to meet the excep-

tional fury of a typhoon.

3. The Captain Superintendent of Police

points out that it is impossible to obtain here the proper stamp of man for the very responsible duty of taking charge

of these police launches, which owing to the nature of our coasts are liable during their patrols to be caught in heavy weather. The water police have important duties to perform in the preservation of order in the harbour and the preven

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.

tion

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