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property in custody whether enemy or otherwise, is estimated at not less than $150 million, and there still remains much property hidden or undisclosed which should be in custody. Prosecution for con- cealment and fraudulent returns will shortly be undertaken.
30.
The Jury Ordinance has been amended with the object of throwing the obligation of notifying the Registrar upon those members of the public liable for Jury service, so that a Jury List may gradually be built up and immediate requirements satisfied.
31.
Legislation in general may be said to have been kept within reasonable bounds. Three proclamations have been amended and no further proclamations beyond the fifteen already reported on have been enacted. The pressing need for the reconstitution of Civil Courts is apparent in all aspects of the legal and judicial functions and in nearly all cases the further development of these functions is prevented or hampered by the absence of full civil jurisdiction.
32..
Translation of Japanese legislation and documents has proceeded with sufficient speed to enable a prima facie view to be formed on such matters as the liquidation of the banks, seizure of allied assets and ownership of property previously in enemy custody.
POLICE.
33.
The general shortage of personnel has been more acute and more alarming in the Police Force than in any other branch of the Administration. The Force has operated during the three months' period with 95 officers of the rank of Inspectors and above, out of an approved War Establishment of 321. The Colony and the Administration have therefore been fortunate in the good behaviour of the population. Armed robberies and piracies have occurred but these have at no time been a serious menace or exceeded what might reasonably be expected.
34.
Complications in the policing of the Colony have been caused by the presence of large numbers of Servicemen who are not amenable to civil law under a military administration. Further embarrassments have been caused by the possibly well-meant but mistaken and uncontrolled efforts of the local branch of the Kuomintang towards the apprehension and punishment of so-called collaborators, the disposal of certain Secret Service organisations whose help was enlisted immediately following the Japanese surrender, the activities of guerilla bands who were largely imbued with Communistic tendencies and the antagonism to the Kuomintang, and by incidents created by the gendarmerie attached to the large bodies of Chinese troops which passed through the Colony.
35.
The Special Branch of the Police Force has been reconstituted ab initio and is beginning to develop satisfactorily in spite of the heavy strain
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