CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 658

and among whom the communal instinct seems to be absent. In

the absence of Police even the presence of a crowd is no 643

protection. Ladies have been robbed in the Streets in the

presence of several persons, not one of whom has attempted to

interfere, and in the arrest or the pursuit of a thief a

Constable receives no assistance from onlookers directly or

indirectly. It is therefore not to be expected that the

proportion of undetected crime is large; but I am not satisfi-

ed that the arrangements made are all that could be desired

and the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police is at present

considering proposals for improvement. Having regard to the

condition of the Colony I think it probable that a further

increase in the strength of the Force, especially in Europeans,

will be necessary.

4.

The disturbed condition of the neighbour-

ing Provinces, and the great distress in Kwang Si have also

contributed to the increase of crime in Hongkong to which

numbers of loose characters are attracted. I have endeavoured

to check this advent by using the power of banishment to

return to China men who have been twice convicted and tho se

known to be leading idle and vagabond lives from whose ranks

the thieves and robbers are recruited. The number of persons

so deported was 311 in 1899; 249 in 1900; 283 in 1901; 177

in 1902; and 37 up to the present date of 1903.

5.

The condition of the Chinese Contingent

of the Force is unsatisfactory and the extraordinary increase

in the number of offences against discipline during the year

is