CO129-501-3 Chinese situation- Protection of British subjects of Chinese race 23-10-1926 - 21-12-1927 — Page 169

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3.

doubt the identity both of Mr. Teo and his servants, there

can be no excuse for this misconduct.

Not content with treating Hr. Teo as a criminal, the

police have removed from his house two shot guns, with about

300 or 400 cartridges, two old-fashioned revolvera with no

cartridges, one sporting knife and the revolver with which he

was armed on the night in question.

away two or three bunches of keys.

They have also taken

Further, to add to the

damage committed by the robbers, the police forced open two

of Er. Teo's wife's trunks containing clothing. In fset,

they themselves seem to have behaved no better than the

robbers whom it was their duty to pursue and arrest, and their

attitude throughout the whole affair is almost incredible.

The fact that the victim of their brutality was a British

subject makes their action, if possible, the more condemnable,

and I must lodge a most emphatic protest against the whole

conduct of the police in this matter

I must also request you to note that the Superintent'a

remark that Mr. Teo Yee Swee nad no right to possess a

revolver and cartridges is incorrect. There is no regulation

to prevent a respectable British subject from carrying a

revolver for self-defence; and the condition of lawlessness

from which Swatow is now suffering and the complete helpless-

ness of the police in the matter of maintaining order show

how necessary it is for respectable persons to carry ams.

Further, I would ask you to note that as Mr. Teo Yee

Swee signed the written statement in the Central Police

Station without first reading it, nothing in it can be used

against him.

Further, the police had no right to demand a guarantee

for a British subject, and the guarantee given by the Hook Lin

and Hook Cheong firms is null and void, as regards Mr. Tea

Yee Swee because he is British and as regards his servants

becaus/