CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 642

47

635

X:

tone that he was not going to allow me to teach him his duty.

I said that I would teach him his duty as I would go directly

to the Police office and report the ease; on which he said

with even more insolence than before "you can go there yourself

if you like".

5. Accompanied by Captain White I visited the Police Station and having made the report was told by the Inspector in Charge that if the ricksha man would go there at 11.30 a.m. the next day the matter would be enquired into. On reflection I decided that it would not be desirable to let him go alone there to bring a charge against one of the Hongkong Police and I caused the Captain Superintendent to be informed in writing that I

was taking legal advies.

6. My adviser recommended communicating with the Police Authorities, the result being as shewn in the two letters of

which copies are enclosed.

7. At a moment when my time is much occupied as I have shortly to leave on a cruise, I have nevertheless felt obliged to

bring this matter to Your Excellency's notice. It is not the

first time that I have had unpleasant experience of the conduct of the Hongkong police. Your Excellency is not likely to know the extent to which some of them carry their overbearing. In

servic the course of my experience I have become acquainted with nearly every part of the British Empire and I have never seen or even heard of anything like it.

8. I may be permitted to say without fear of misconstruction that if a man holding the position which I happen to fill and able to make his representations heard can be treated in his servants and person in the outrageous manner which some of the Hongkong police adopt with such very imperfect restraint as that shown by the correspondence to be exercised by their

2.