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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MARCH 1, 1918.
Mr. POLLOCK addressed the Council and seconded.
Mr. HOLYOAK and His Excellency the Governor also addressed the Council. Question put and agreed to.
QUESTIONS. Mr. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-
In view of the steeper portions of the Peak Roud being dangerous for pedestrians, when in a slippery condition, will the Government take steps to make such steep portions less dangerous by putting ribbing across the road, or, if not, what other steps does the Government propose to adopt in the matter?
In view of the damage done by typhoon to shipping at and near Cheung Chow Island in August last and in view of the recent damage done by fire there, will the Government state what would approximately be the cost of connecting Cheung Chow with the Island of Hongkong
(a) by wireless ;
(b) by other means?
1. Whether the warrant which the Police Officers set forth to execute at No. 6 Gresson Street, on the 22nd January, 1918, was a warrant for the seizure of property stolen by armed robbers, and whether such warrant also covered the seizure of arms and/or ammunition and also whether such warrant was also a warrant for the apprehension of any, and, if so, how many persons and for what offences or suspected offences?
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2. Whether it is the fact that the Police Officers, executing such Warrant, were unarmed, and, if whether there is any Hongkong Police Force Rule or Regulation or instruction upon the subject of search parties of Police going armed ? If not will the Government consider the advisability of making a Rule or Regulation enjoining Police, when executing a search warrant, to go armed?
3. Is there any, and, if so, what Regulation in force in the Metropolitan Police Force, London,
with reference to Police Officers engaged in search parties going armed ?
1. Is His Excellency the Governor correctly reported as having made the following statements, in the course of his speech at the opening of the Taitam Tuk Reservoir, on the 2nd day of February, 1918 :-
It will surprise some of you people to know the terrible casualties that are inflicted upon the Civil Service of this Colony by a too free use of alcoholic beverages. I wonder how many, you imagine, of the subordinate staff-concerning whom I have absolute figures--cho arrive in this Colony, survive to earn their pensions. I wonder, if I were to ask the cause, what the answer would be: well, I can tell you that I am well within the mark when I say that of every two men who arrive here, whether as Policemen, or as Overseers of works such as these, Sanitary Inspectors, Revenue Officers, and so forth, there is not more than one who lives and remains in the service to earn his pension. I might add that the particular cause of the dismissal, loss of health, and even death, of the moiety that do not earn their pension, is drink.”
If His Excellency is not correctly reported as above, what amendments require to be made in
the above report ?
2. In connection with the above statements of His Excellency will the Government lay upon the
table of this Council statistics for the last 10 years, showing as regards
(i.) Policemen ;
(ii.) Overseers of Government works;
(iii) Sanitary Inspectors; and
(iv.) Revenue Officers,
how many in each of above branches of the Service respectively have
(a) been dismissed owing to drink ;
(b) died of drink?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
QUESTIONS.Mr. HOLYOAK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:--
1. Will the Government state what was the strength of the Fire Brigade in pre-war days?
2. What is the present strength of the regular Fire Brigade?
3. How many of them are employed on police patrol and other duties ?
4. In what part of the Colony are they stationed and at what hours are they engaged upon these
duties, especially during the night?
5. How many regular fire-men now reside in No. 5 Police Station (Central Fire Station) and the
Central Police Station ?
6. Does the Government consider the “Volunteer” Brigade necessary and of practical value?
7. If so, will the Government arrange for the exemption of all "Volunteer" fire-brigade men— whether in "Defence Corps' Police Reserve", from all Military or Police duties,
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except the annual musketry course?
8. In the event of a fire in an outlying district, such as Shau-ki-wan, what steps are taken to
protect the central districts in case of further call ?
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