95
36
-
-
37
-
528 actions were instituted in the Original Jurisdiction and the amounts for which judgment
given was
totalled $2,313,529.89.
4 actions were instituted in the Admiralty Jurisdiction.
470 grants were made in the Probate Jurisdiction.
146 persons were indicted in the Criminal Jurisdiction of whom 94 were convicted.
11 appeals were lodged in the Appellate Jurisdiction 10 of which were disposed of during the year.
5. The lower civil courts are the land courts in the Northern and Southern districts of the New Territories, with jurisdiction over all land cases in those districts, and the small debts courts of the same two districts. In these courts the District Officers sit to hear land and small debts cases.
6. The lower criminal courts are the magistrates' courts, two for Hong Kong island and a small area on the mainland opposite Shaukiwan, one for Kowloon, including the whole area south of the Kowloon hills, and one each for the two districts of the New Territories, in which the District Officers are the magistrates.
7. The following figures show the amount of work done by the lower courts in 1933:--
Civil:-
District Officer North,
Land Court
Small Debts Court
67 cases. 239
27
176 cases.
59
"
District Officer South,
Land Court
Small Debts Court
Criminal:
―
Hong Kong Magistracy, two courts Kowloon Magistracy, one court District Officer, North, one court District Officer, South, one court
26,159 cases. 19,925 1,281
23
17
276
27
II, THE POLICE.
8. The Police Force of the Colony is under the control of the Inspector General of Police who is assisted by one Deputy Inspector General and twelve Superintendents. The force
consists of four Contingents, European, Indian, and two Chinese, viz. Cantonese and Weihaiwei. The strength of the different Contingents is as follows:—
Europeans
Indians
Chinese (Cantonese)
Chinese (Weihaiwei)
249
726
632
283
In addition the Police Department controls the Anti- Piracy Guards, a force consisting of thirty-three Russians and twenty-eight Indian Guards, together with four European Sergeants, eight Indian Sergeants and ninety-five Weihaiwei Chinese Constables, who are included in the Police strength. The Anti-Piracy Guards are employed and paid for by Shipping Companies for service in the China Seas.
9. Further, the department engages and supervises 1,129 Indian and Chinese watchmen who are paid by private individuals for protection of private property.
10. The waters of the Colony are policed by a fleet of ten steam launches and three motor boats which employ a staff of two hundred and forty-four Chinese under European officers.
11. There were 5,630 serious cases of crime in 1933 as against 5,707 in 1982, a decrease of 77 or 1.3%. There was a decrease of 75 cases in burglaries, 29 in house breaking, 111 in larcenies from dwellings, 28 in larcenies, 16 in murders and 4 in robberies. There were 25,659 minor cases during 1983 as against 15,864 in 1932, an increase of 10,295 or 67%. The main increases were in Hawking offences, offences against the Opium Ordinance, Vehicles and Traffic Regulation Ordinance and Women and Girls Protection Ordinance.
III. PRISONS.
12. There are three prisons in the Colony. Victoria Gaol in Hong Kong is the main prison for males. This prison is built on the separate system, but segregation is difficult owing to lack of space and accommodation. It contains cell accom- modation for 644 only and prisoners are often kept in association through unavoidable overcrowding. There is a branch male prison at Lai Chi Kok near Kowloon, with accomodation for 480 prisoners. In this establishment all the prisoners sleep in association wards and only selected prioners are sent there as the prison was not originally built as such. It was converted from a Quarantine Station in 1920, for temporary use pending the building of a new prison. The third prison is the prison for females situated near the male prison at Lai Chi Kok. new general prison has been approved and site preparations cominenced.
A
96
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.