CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 113

Neither owners whose property is at stake, nor officers whose liveR

are at stake have the slightest confidence in them. Their train 107 ing is inadequate and their discipline is bad and their bad discipline affects the discipline of the other members of the crow. These guards although nominally on the ship's articles are paid through the Police and consider themselves as police and resent

receiving orders from the ship's officers. In an appendix hereto

a number of cases is quoted, showing th. bad discipline and

inefficiency of the Guards. This list of cases is by no means

exhaustive but merely illustrative of the matter raised in this

paragraph.

It is the opinion of both the owners and the officers (s

it is the generally accepted view all the world over) that the

Master of a vossol should have complete control over all members

of his crew at all times when the vessel is at sca, and it is

felt strongly that the police element should be entirely eliminated

and that any Regulations or assistance received by a ship in the

British Mercantile Maring should come from the Navy and in certain

matters from the Harbour Department and not from the Police,

Whilst in port the Indian Gurrds consider themselves as being off

duty and they tako no part in searching the people who come on

board whilst the vessel is in port. It is the unanimous opinion

of ship owners and officers that the Guards could and should be

dispensed with from the ships.

POLICE SEARCHES. The scorching and examination of passengers

embarking on vessels about to leave the colony is a proper function

of the police. The Police searches however are inadequate. The

number of cases of ships which have been pirated by passengers who

embarked with their arms is well known. Coastal and River steuners

are frequently in Hongkong for 18 hours at a time and during the

whole of this time cargo and baggage is being discharged and loaded.

The ship's offic.rs cannot possibly be expected to search the people

who are constantly coming må going got the police only come on duty

on the various wharves some two to three hours before the ship is

due to sail. It is submitted that an adequate number of police

should be on duty on the wherves the whole time, also that the

5.

(Water)