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Telephone Censorship.
26. As the telephone was largely used at the beginning for. intimidation, the Government had eventually to put two officers at the Central Exchange to detect the source of such intimidation, and subsequently they detailed six Chinese volunteer workers for the duty.
But the mischief had already been done; and the services of these men were of not much avail. If a telephone censorship is to be of service in future, it should be established immediately there is danger of an outbreak, since for some reason many Chinese servants appear to find messages coming mysteriously over the telephone even more terrifying than danger threatened by someone whom they can see.
Restrictions on Chinese entering the Colony.
27. Before the total interruption of sea-communication with Canton, some labourers and others came down from Canton by steamers, and a strict system of search was instituted here to keep out agitators, idlers, and smugglers of arms. The trains have also been subjected to these searches. Though the wisdom of the measure has been questioned by some, it has undoubtedly shut out large numbers of undesirables.
Volunteer Defence Corps.
28. A few days after the mobilisation of the Volunteer Defence Corps some Chinese joined that Force; and although their number was not large, the effect on the enemy was quite dispro- portionate. It showed a spirit totally unexpected by him, and it had a tremendous moral effect on the whole Chinese confmunity.
The formation of the Special Police Reserve, which was joined by many Chinese, was the only factor which prevented a large number from joining this Corps.
Special Police Reserve.
29. At the outbreak of the strike, the Hon. Mr. Chow Shou-son and I approached Mr. J. M. Wong, Mr. Wong Kwong-tin and Mr. B. Wong Tape, who has been in charge of the Chinese Sec- tion of the Police Reserve during the Great War, and asked them to embody this Reserve, and recruit new members. This they readily promised to do, going at once to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to offer their services. The command of the Chinese contingent fell to the indefatigable Mr. Fred Mow Fung who, with the assistance of Dr. S. W. Tso and the three gentle- men mentioned, soon succeeded in enrolling 217 men. All these men honestly believed themselves to be in personal danger, for threats were constantly uttered; and they were not all armed even when on duty, while all were unarmed when off duty. It is courage of this type, in defying dangers before their reality or unreality can be determined, which was so conspicuously lacking in other quarters, and made their example all the more creditable. 30. The non-Chinese Section under Mr. M. H. Turner ren- dered equally valuable services to the community.
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