Enclosure No.1.
6
Inspector General of Police,
I forward herewith a preliminary report from Sub-
Inspector Whant on the larceny of 40,000 detonators from the
Green Island Dangerous Goods Depot between 3rd and 4th inst.
2. The facts as far as they are known at present are
given in that report. The magazine from which the detonators
were taken was the farthest away from the sentry and completely
out of view of his usual post. The sentry patrols the premises
at night but, as there is no lighting and there are narrow dark
passages to traverse the danger of the man being surprised and
overcome by ill disposed persons would be very considerable and
I doubt very much whether a conscientious patrol is performed
in the present darkness.
3. With regard to the premises. There is a strong
entrance gate but the wall surrounding the premises on three sides
is at an angle of about 45° and is easily mounted. This wall
furthermore has steps up it from the inside in several places.
At the North West corner near No.5 Magazine there is such a
flight of steps and there is a convenient beach, out of sight of
the sentry. On the fourth side there is the hill with paths
leading directly into the premises.
The various boatmen and coolies employed on Green
Island have free access to the premises by these back paths,
one of which leads to their quarters.
4.
I feel that under the present conditions it would not
be difficult for a similar larceny to be perpetrated at will.
I submit for consideration the question of whether an important
arms and explosives depot of this size ought not to be enclosed by
an unscalable wall, with only one entrance which can be guarded by
a sentry, and whether the premises should not be adequately
lighted at night so that the guard may see what is going on
without danger of being surprised and overpowered.
(sd.) W.R. Scott
Divisional Superintendent of Police
(Kowloon)
7. 8. 35.
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